New York faces soaring taxes under Hochul, who opposes SALT relief for struggling residents
New York: Recently, I had a chat with President-elect Trump and some Congress members about the SALT cap. It’s this annoying limit on how much state and local taxes we can deduct from our federal taxes.
We had a good talk. Trump backed raising the cap but also pointed out that New York needs to cut its crazy spending.
And he’s spot on. Since Kathy Hochul took office in 2015, New York’s spending has shot up by nearly $90 billion. That’s a whopping 59% increase in just nine years!
Under her watch, spending has skyrocketed even more, with over $61 billion added from 2021 to 2025. No wonder New Yorkers are feeling the pinch with the highest combined state and local tax burden in the country.
On average, we’re paying about 12% of our income in taxes. Folks in the Hudson Valley and Long Island are really feeling it, especially with the recent payroll mobility tax hike to help the MTA.
And guess what? They’re planning to raise those taxes again, hitting small businesses when they’re already struggling.
But it doesn’t end there. New York also ranks high for sales taxes, taking around 8.5% on most purchases. So, every time you grab a soda or some gum, you’re giving more cash to Albany.
Got a cell phone? There’s a tax for that too! New York has one of the highest tax burdens on wireless services.
And if you’re betting on sports, like the Jets or Giants, you’d be taxed at a staggering 51% on your winnings, the highest in the nation!
Even if you made a smart stock trade, New York will take 10.9% of your earnings when you sell. It feels like we’re being taxed everywhere we turn.
This is why we need to tackle Hochul’s crazy tax regime. It’s time for reform, and I’m hopeful we can make a change in 2026 by electing a new governor.
In the meantime, Hochul’s spending shouldn’t stop Trump and our Republican leaders from agreeing to reasonable increases to the SALT cap.
I’ve suggested raising the cap to $100,000 for single filers and $200,000 for married couples. This would help most New Yorkers and really benefit middle-class families.
But Hochul seems against it, calling my bill a “failure” on social media. No, Governor, the real failure is you, sitting in Albany while the state burns.
In 2026, New Yorkers will demand accountability for Hochul’s mismanagement. That day can’t come soon enough.
— Republican Mike Lawler represents New York’s 17th Congressional District.
