Exclusive | GOP Rep. DEsposito wont back renewing Trump tax cuts without one key tweak
Freshman Rep.Anthony D’Esposito said he would oppose renewing the Trump tax cuts that expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress restores the state and local tax deduction to heavily burdened Long Island homeowners.Then-President Donald Trump and the GOP-led Congress in 2017 imposed a $10,000 cap on the SALT deduction, a blow to homeowners in the New York City suburbs who can pay $20,000 to $30,000 in property taxes.“If there is no SALT, we’re not supporting it,” D’Esposito said during a Post editorial board meeting Thursday.“There’s a lot of conversation that has to go into that.”D’Esposito is facing off against Democrat Laura Gillen in a tight rematch in the 4th Congressional District that runs from Long Island’s south shore through central Nassau County.The SALT deduction is a burning issue in the district, with many Long Island homeowners paying steep property taxes as well as state income taxes and other levies well above the cap.He has also backed a proposal which aims to eliminate the so-called “marriage penalty” for joint filers making under $500,000.The GOP congressman said he will buck his party to fight for his constituents.“I don’t always listen to my party.
We have been the biggest, loudest mouths against his [Trump’s] tax policies,” D’Esposito said.He said the good news is that Trump, in a about face, last month pledged to lift the cap or fully restore the SALT deduction if re-elected to the White House.Trump had approved the law curbing the deduction as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.The program also slashed income taxes that benefitted many New York residents and cut corporate taxes from 28% to 21%.D’Esposito is part of the House bipartisan SALT caucus pushing to restore the deduction.
He said lawmakers will have to find offsetting cuts or savings to make up for the loss of revenue to restore SALT.“The only presidential nominee who is having any conversation about SALT is Donald Trump,” the retire...