House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is at odds with a key group of Republicans — but he can’t afford to lose their support heading into November.
Four New York Republicans pulled a move most commonly used by hard-line conservatives on Tuesday, rejecting a bipartisan deal for $78 billion in tax breaks because it does not include the “SALT” cap raise they desire. The New Yorkers want a larger deduction for state and local taxes, increasing the current $10,000 cap to $80,000 for individuals and $160,000 for couples filing jointly.
The “SALT” advocates met with House Freedom Caucus members and broke out into smaller groups on Tuesday evening. Some Republicans attacked the tax bill for being generous to corporations, and after a long night of negotiations, Johnson is bringing the bill to the floor Wednesday.
Set to introduce the bill unamended, Johnson rejecting the requests of those moderate Republicans could alienate New Yorkers of paramount importance to maintaining the House majority.
Among those who want to see the “SALT” cap raised are the candidates vying in the special election to replace former Rep. George Santos (R-NY), who was expelled from Congress in December. Democratic nominee Tom Suozzi told reporters at a Tuesday press conference he would “build a bipartisan coalition to restore SALT.” The Democrat siding with state Republicans muddied the waters further by undermining Johnson’s plan.
Santos’s seat is among several Republicans hope to keep red or flip in New York to strengthen the House majority.
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New York Republicans picked up four Democratic seats in 2022, victories that were key to flipping the House. The GOP’s razor-thin majority will once again rely on centrist Republicans in races throughout The Empire State, and Johnson began fundraising in November for candidates critical to preserving his majority.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Johnson for comment.