Suffolk Reporter

Rep. Nick LaLota of Suffolk County has reiterated his commitment to addressing the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap following a meeting with former President Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago. The meeting included representatives from New York, New Jersey, and California, focusing on issues such as congestion pricing and increasing the SALT cap.

LaLota expressed optimism after the meeting, stating that "President Trump renewed his campaign pledge to ‘fix’ the SALT cap and support my constituents who suffer under the nation's most burdensome state and local taxes." He emphasized a shared dedication to finding solutions that would benefit America's middle class and improve life for Long Islanders.

New York is noted for having the highest effective tax burden in the United States, attributed to a growing state budget under Democratic leadership since 2018. This has led many residents to relocate to states like Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The 2017 tax reform introduced by Trump capped SALT deductions at $10,000, increasing financial pressure on New Yorkers.

Despite initial promises from House Democrats in 2022 to address this issue during their control of Congress and the White House, no changes were made before voting on the Inflation Reduction Act. Since taking office in January 2023, LaLota has been vocal about restoring the SALT deduction. He joined the bipartisan SALT Caucus and proposed legislation aimed at raising and extending the deduction cap significantly.

In January 2024, LaLota opposed the Wyden-Smith tax bill due to its failure to increase the SALT deduction cap. He also introduced the SALT Marriage Penalty Elimination Act in February 2024; however, it was blocked by both Republicans and Democrats in further legislative processes.