Sparks is spikeping tensions as GOP lawmakers fly beyond taxes that affect Republicans who represent districts in states that are primarily managed by Democrats as they negotiate President Donald Trump's “big beautiful bill.”
More specifically, it's a battle over state and local tax credits known as salt.
Republican lawmakers representing high-cost living areas outside of major cities have pushed leaders to raise the current limit ($10,000) on salt deductions for both single filers and married couples.
But on Thursday night, the House Salt Caucus leader highlighted what they said was an offer from the GOP leader to raise it to $30,000.
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Rep. Mike Lawler, left, and other New York Republicans are pushing House Speaker Mike Johnson to the right for a higher salt deduction cap on President Donald Trump's “Big Beautiful Building.” (Getty Images)
“We negotiated salt in good faith from the start, fighting for the taxpayers we represent in New York. But without notice or agreement, the Speaker, Means and Means Committee unilaterally proposed a $30,000 salt cap.
“It's not just a shaming, it risks derailing President Trump's one big beautiful bill. New Yorkers are sending far more to Washington than we've returned.
Statements were made by Mike Roller, RN.Y., Nick Larota, RN.Y., Elise Stefanik, RN.Y. , and signed by Andrew Garbarino, Rn.Y.
But not all of their delegations are on board.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakes, Rn.Y., told Fox News Digital that the district spans all slivers in South Brooklyn and Staten Island, that it could support a $30,000 cap first.
“Everyone needs to advocate for the needs of the district. Trimming the deduction to $30,000 provides much needed relief to the middle class and covers 98% of the families in my district,” she said.
However, a Johnson spokesman pointed out that there is no commitment to any number.
Press Secretary Asina Lawson wrote with a report that Johnson “admitted a $30,000 number to the “$30,000 number” in order to add a significant context.
Another New York Republican, Rep. Nicole Mariotakis, said the $30,000 cap would be fine. (Allison Bailey/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
She referenced comments made to reporters when Johnson asked them on Thursday. “I've heard of that number, but others have heard of it.”
“It's still a continuing discussion amongst the members,” Johnson said. “I'm not going to handicap it because I don't know exactly what it is, but there's a lot of the analysis that's in it.”
Republican majority in the House and Senate are working to advance Trump's agenda through the budget adjustment process. This allows parties to move large laws without input on the other side, if they are dealing with budgets and other financial issues.
This is a massive effort across multiple committees of jurisdiction.
The Ways & Means Committee, the House Tax Writing Committee, is expected to announce a portion of the bill within days.
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A meeting to advance the law is expected Tuesday afternoon, people familiar with the plan told Fox News Digital.
Mario Takis is the only member of the committee who is also a member of the Salt Caucus.
Republicans in California, New York and New Jersey are pushing for a settlement bill to lift the salt deduction cap first implemented in Trump's 2017 Tax Cuts and Employment Act.
Some lawmakers have proposed raising the cap to a height of up to $100,000, but Republicans in other regions have been largely denied.
Blue State Republicans seeking a larger deduction argue that the issue is important to their members.
The panel of House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith is tasked with the tax collection portion of the bill. (Tom Williams)
They are also the most vulnerable lawmakers at the House GOP conference, and their seats are key to Republicans holding their slim majority.
Republicans who support the salt deduction point out that it is the state that will benefit people in high-cost areas outside of big cities, but ultimately send taxes back to Washington for programs that will benefit the nation.
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However, others in the conservative circle pushed back their efforts.
“The Republican margins are very small in the home, and a small number of New England Republicans are making a fuss about the bill and are pushing for an increase in the deduction,” said Mark Short, a graduate of Trump's first administration who played a key role in the 2017 tax negotiations.
“From a tax perspective, what's unfair about that is essentially asking people to take a lot of Central America who live in better governed states and subsidize the residents of uncontrolled states.”
