NY Republicans push for SALT relief in tax package, temporarily stalling procedural vote

In a bold move, New York Republicans in the U.S. House employed an unusual tactic on Tuesday, temporarily stalling a procedural vote on the House floor. Their goal is to urge the House to address the enhancement of the federal deduction for state and local taxes (SALT). Representatives Nick LaLota, Anthony D’Esposito, Andrew Garbarino, and Mike Lawler initially voted “no,” expressing their firm stand on including SALT relief in the ongoing discussions of a bipartisan tax package.

The tax package under consideration aims to expand the child tax credit and restore certain business tax breaks. However, these New York Republicans, some from swing districts, have firmly stated they won’t support the bill unless it addresses the SALT deduction. The current $10,000 cap on SALT, a result of President Trump’s 2017 tax overhaul, has significantly impacted taxpayers in states like New York with relatively high property and state income taxes.

The day’s events included a meeting between the New York Republicans and Speaker Mike Johnson to discuss SALT relief. While a complete lifting of the SALT cap seems unlikely, the representatives seek some level of relief for their constituents. The issue has also surfaced in the special election for George Santos’s replacement, with both candidates advocating for SALT relief. Democrat Tom Suozi, vocal about “no SALT, no deal,” pledged to continue his advocacy if re-elected to Congress, highlighting the significant impact of the SALT cap on New York residents.