House conservatives block procedural vote on SALT relief, in blow to blue state Republicans

A group of conservative Republicans on Wednesday joined Democrats in a procedural vote to stop the advancement of a plan to expand state and local tax (SALT) deductions.

The procedural vote to consider SALT legislation failed 195-225, with 18 conservatives joining the Democrats, according to The Hill.

Moderate Republicans from New York, California, and New Jersey have sought to expand the $10,000 SALT deduction cap imposed in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Supporters of the cap have argued it serves to incentivize states and local governments to reduce spending.

New York GOP Rep. Mike Lawler had sought to double the cap for married couples, Politico reported. His plan would have applied to taxpayers making less than $500,000 and apply to the 2023 tax year.

While SALT reform does enjoy support from across the aisle, many Democrats believed Lawler's bill would not properly address the issue.

Democratic New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell, for instance, called the measure "badly flawed" and "bare minimum."

"What we have before us is a fig leaf to paper over that Republicans opposed middle-class tax relief," he said.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.