Letter to the New York Times Editorial Board - Congressman Suozzi pens letter to the editor of the New York Times in defense of restoring the SALT deduction

Letter

To the Editor:

Conservatives have been trying to defund progressive states for decades. Now Mr. Reeves and Mr. Pulliam embrace the misleading Republican argument that the state and local tax deduction's purpose is to benefit the rich.

While many wealthy and middle-class taxpayers benefit from the SALT deduction, the main beneficiaries of the deduction are progressive states. Those states provide services that benefit low- and moderate-income residents.

The SALT cap was crushing to my state and so many other high-tax progressive blue states. Wealthy and middle-class taxpayers are leaving our states for lower-taxed states with lesser services. Now during coronavirus, remote-working taxpayers are also moving to lower-cost states. Low- and moderate-income taxpayers are the ones who are left holding the bag.

Will our states respond by reducing our progressive programs, or increase taxes and drive away even more residents? Why would Mr. Reeves, a self-proclaimed liberal, argue in favor of those policies?

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