Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) called out Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) for vowing to vote “no” on President Donald Trump’s tax bill, leading to a heated exchange between the two Republican lawmakers.
The Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday advanced its portion of Trump’s “big beautiful bill,” which would permanently extend the president’s 2017 tax cuts. The bill would also raise the SALT cap to $30,000 from the current $10,000 cap for anyone making under $400,000 a year, but Lawler and other New York Republicans are demanding the cap be raised even higher, seeking negotiations with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
The SALT cap refers to the limit on the amount of state and local taxes that taxpayers can deduct from their federal income taxes.
On Wednesday, referring to Lawler’s planned “no” on Trump’s bill, Greene said the New York Republican “usually isn’t the guy in the conference with the best ideas.”
“While yes taxes in Democrat controlled New York are ridiculous, but if a $30,000 State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction isn’t good enough for those making under $400,000 then you need to either vote Republican in NY or you need to move!” Greene wrote on X. “The rest of America doesn’t want to and shouldn’t have to make up the difference!!!!! And Mike Lawler has a toss up seat.”
Lawler responded to Greene by referring to her as “the ‘Jewish Space Laser’ lady,” referencing previous conspiracy comments she made. Lawler added that she “doesn’t have a clue what she is talking about.”
“By the way, the reason you enjoy a gavel is because Republicans like me have won our seats,” Lawler wrote. “Good luck being in the Majority if we don’t.”
Greene countered by saying it was President Donald Trump who gave Republicans their majority in both chambers of Congress, not swing-seat Republicans.
“Here is Mike Lawler claiming HE gave us the majority NOT President Donald Trump!!!” Greene wrote. “Did you all vote for Mike Lawler and his agenda??? Or did America vote for President Trump and his MAGA America First agenda?”
Lawler responded by pointing to how he won his seat in a district that favored former Vice President Kamala Harris last November.
“MTG ran almost 10 points behind President Trump in one of the most Republican districts. I ran 6.5 points ahead of President Trump in a district won by Kamala Harris,” he said. “I’m 1 of only 3 Republicans in a district won by Harris.”
GOP TAX WRITERS WOULD RAISE CAP ON SALT DEDUCTIONS TO $30,000 BUT SET INCOME LIMIT
Centrist Republicans from blue tax states have been pushing hard to increase the $10,000 SALT cap. For months, Republican leadership has been meeting with those members to negotiate how much they would increase the cap and other details.
Lawler’s seat is designated “lean Republican” by the Cook Political Report.