- House Republicans are getting ready to release their draft of the GOP tax plan. Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York blasted a key provision set to be featured in it as a “geographical redistribution of wealth.”
Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York said Wednesday that he isn’t satisfied with the GOP tax plan in its current form, blasting one of its key provisions as a “geographical redistribution of wealth.”
He is pushing back against the potential elimination of the state and local tax (SALT) deductions. Such a move would hit middle-class earners in states with high tax rates like New York, New Jersey, and California.
“It’s a geographical redistribution of wealth,” Zeldin said, arguing that eliminating the SALT deductions “picks winners and losers.”
“I’m elected to represent my home district and my home state and I am here to fight for a tax cut for middle-income and low-income constituents back home as well as many other great goals for members from all across the country,” Zeldin said. “But I’m not going to lose sight of that important need to fight for my home district and my home state.”
The Republican is in the congressional delegation from New York, which held a conference call with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House economic adviser Gary Cohn on Monday. Zeldin also had a private meeting with Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday, where the two discussed ways to reach a middle ground on the state and local tax deductions.
Any changes to appease the dissatisfied blue state Republicans will have to come after the rollout on Thursday, as Rep. Patrick McHenry, the chief deputy whip in the House, told reporters on Wednesday that the coming draft of the bill has already been decided in regard to the state and local deductions.