Every Empire State House Democrat except rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Kathleen Rice signed the letter, a copy of which was obtained by POLITICO.
The group is part of a growing chorus of Democrats who need to reverse the tax deduction ceiling set to help pay the GOP’s costly tax cut package in 2017. Supporters of this pressure include speaker Nancy Pelosi, who told reporters earlier this month that she hopes to ensure the recovery of unlimited SALT deductions in the broader package.
“I think we’re building momentum and building on that,” Suozzi said in an interview Tuesday.
By withdrawing the SALT cap, taxpayers in blue states will provide relief, paying the highest taxes and state taxes in the US. But the policy was not without controversy in the party. Some progressive Democrats, including Ocasio-Cortez, have argued that repaying the deduction – which would cost ten billion dollars in the first year alone – would help only the richest taxpayers.
“A lot of progressive people support it, certainly from the New York delegation, other states as well,” Suozzi said when asked about a liberal setback over the proposal.
“When President Trump and the GOP did that, they did not try to be progressive, I can assure you of that. “It has had the greatest negative impact on progressive states,” Suozzi said.