WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is expected to bring the bipartisan tax bill to the House floor as soon as this week.
“We do hope to be able to present a very clear picture here very soon,” Johnson said.
The $78 billion package would provide tax breaks for businesses and expand the child tax credit.
Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) says it’s not a perfect bill.
“This is something that meaningfully advances the ball,” Aguilar said.
Despite the bill passing out of committee with overwhelming bipartisan support, some New York Republicans say it’s lacking a key element.
“I’m a no,” Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) said.
“Stupid,” Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) added.
LaLota and Lawler criticize the bill for not raising the cap on federal deductions for state and local taxes, also known as SALT.
“As of right now, there’s no process to even lobby or advocate for SALT,” LaLota said.
“To not include a salt fix is idiotic and it’s political malpractice,” Lawler said.
Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) also wants SALT included in the bill but is not a definite no.
“I’m hopeful that we can move the needle a little bit further,” Molinaro said.
However, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) says New York Republicans, who campaigned on the SALT issue, have no one to blame but themselves.
“They literally had one job and they failed. Shows how incompetent and weak and ineffective that they are,” Lieu said.
If the bill passes in the House, it is unclear whether the Senate will take up the tax package.
