Rep. Mike Lawler on Tax Negotiations and Potential NY Governor Bid

Tax Bill Negotiations

• 💡 The primary objective is to negotiate a tax bill that provides middle-class tax relief and makes permanent many provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
• ⚠️ If no tax bill is passed, the expiration of current tax laws will result in the single largest tax increase in American history.
• 🎯 Key provisions President Trump wants include no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and lifting the cap on SALT.
• 💰 The focus is on providing relief to working-class families who have suffered from high inflation, grocery prices, energy costs, and the overall cost of living.

State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction

• 📌 Congressman Lawler is focused on lifting the cap on SALT, which is crucial for high-tax districts like his, where residents pay some of the highest property taxes in America.
• 🚫 A $20,000 or $30,000 cap on SALT would be insufficient; if the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expires, the cap would be eliminated entirely, but this would be coupled with a devastating tax increase and the return of the alternative minimum tax.
• 🤝 President Trump supports lifting the SALT cap, which is helpful in negotiations. Lawler introduced legislation to lift the cap to $100,000 for individuals and $200,000 for married couples.
• ✅ Lawler is confident that a tax bill will be passed that lifts the SALT cap and provides real tax relief to middle-class families.

Potential Run for New York Governor

• 🚀 Congressman Lawler confirmed he is considering a run for governor of New York State in 2026.
• ⚠️ Both Lawler and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik reportedly agree that Governor Kathy Hochul is a "disaster" and "incompetent."
• 📉 New York faces significant challenges, including out-migration, high tax burdens, a poor business climate, declining quality of life, rampant crime, a migrant crisis, and decaying infrastructure.
• 🎯 Lawler believes New York needs a strong candidate with a proven track record of winning in tough districts, highlighting his own success in flipping a Democratic district.
• 🗓️ A decision on his candidacy will be made by June, based on a clear pathway to victory.

Medicaid Funding and Fiscal Policy

• ❌ Lawler is adamantly opposed to changes that would reduce the federal share of Medicaid funding from 50% to 45%, stating that New York is a donor state that pays more into the federal government than it receives.
• 🛡️ He vows to protect Medicaid for vulnerable populations, including the ID community, seniors, children, and single mothers.
• ⚖️ Proposed measures include citizenship verification to prevent illegal immigrants from receiving Medicaid benefits, work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, and increased eligibility verification frequency.
• 🚫 No changes will be considered that cut benefits to anyone.