With our budget vote I am standing with the 99 percent who will see a tax break with a (possible future) compromise on the state and local tax deduction.–Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY-23) (facebook, Oct. 26, 2017)
Eliminating the SALT deduction will unfairly burden over 62,000 people in the 22nd District.–Conservative Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY-22) (Elmira Star-Gazette Oct. 27, 2017)
Can Reed and Tenney both be right? Sixty-two thousand people, however this figure was determined, would be much more than one percent of NY-22.
Do we care about taxes? Would we object to paying more. I see no reason to believe that. Many say they care, many others would find it hard to pay more. So why are many of Tom Reed’s supporters not upset by his vote for a budget that might raise their taxes and cut their benefits? Here are some possibilities:
- Strong faith in Tom Reed’s good intentions.
- Unwillingness to admit political difference with their representative.
- Unwillingness to seem to side with Democrats on anything.
- Belief that Tom favors them over people who may have less.
- Belief that tax cuts for the rich somehow benefit all.
- Disbelief in published information about the budget.
- Reliance on “alternative facts.”
- Doubt that Reed’s vote will affect them.
- Political loyalty to the GOP and Tom Reed.
What do readers think? Are any or all of these reasons significant? Can you suggest other reasons?
New NY 23rd 
Apparently, many in the Southern Tier believe his bullshit. Why anyone would vote against their own best interests is beyond me.
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I see televison commericals asking neighboring congressmen, Katko and Collins to support the family friendly new tax cuts. They actually state figures that the average family will save per year. I realize that is all friction since the GOP is planning to release the details later this week, probably Wednesday.
I think that many of us are waiting for the details before we will react. I know of Yates County faithful who are calling Reed’s DC Office daily ( (202) 225-3161.
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I don’t think people vote against their best interests as they understand them. Tax reform is hard to understand when so much false advertising confuses us. Remember the GOP’s 31 propaganda pieces posted by Tom Reed last August.
Average family savings estimates are misleading–wealthy families might save much, and others nothing. Estimated savings for people with various income levels are more informative. Keep in mind that everyone’s taxes can’t go down unless benefits are cut or the deficit is to explode.
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Tom Reed voted for the Budget while 20 of his colleagues voted against it.
The House Liberty Caucus opposed the Budget because it does not balance.
Justin Amash
Jimmy Duncan
Thomas Massie
Walter Jones
Mark Sanford
They were joined by two other conservatives:
Rep. Ken Buck (Colo.)
Rep. Matt Gaetz (Fla.)
These Republican Congressmen from NY also voted against the Budget:
Dan Donovan (NY)
John Faso (NY)
John Katko (NY)
Peter King (NY)
Elise Stefanik (NY)
Claudia Tenney (NY)
Lee Zeldin (NY)
Republican Congressmen who face tough reelections decided to vote in the interests of ALL of their constituents.
Tom Reed voted AGAINST the interests of his constituents, AGAINST his professed ideology and FOR the interests of his corporate masters. Reed will vote for anything that gets him reelected. Nothing else matters. He is increasingly dismissive of any opposing points of view.
It’s obvious that the Resistance has FAILED in NY23.
RIP Indivisible NY-23 2017.
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Reportedly, the GOP may retain the property tax exemption but dump the sales and income tax exemption. This is a bad idea–if enacted, NYS would be encouraged to raise property taxes and cut sales and income taxes.
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/357678-gop-chairman-says-tax-bill-to-include-property-tax-deduction
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Well.
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Tex.), the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, is scheduled to reveal an initial version of the tax bill on Wednesday.
AND
The National Association of Home Builders, after learning that a “home ownership” tax credit they had wanted will not be in the bill, is preparing a nationwide campaign against the legislation. The development underscored just how difficult the prospect of a successful tax overhaul will be, given the complex and competing interests that President Trump and GOP lawmakers are trying to serve.
“We will do everything we can to defeat this thing,” said Jerry Howard, chief executive officer of the National Association of Home Builders.
It should be an interesting week!
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Reportedly, the National Association of Realtors demands that tax writers preserve the effectiveness of the mortgage interest deduction. Realtors have supported Tom Reed in the past with repeated advertising mailings. Will Tom dare cross them?
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It is important to remember history, as it has value as a predictor.
The American public was strongly for ACA repeal, until they discovered how it would hurt them.
Then public opinion turned strongly against repeal, which did not stop the Republicans (and Tom Reed) from continuing their efforts. Tom followed the orders of his masters.
I believe the same will happen with tax cuts. Except that it won’t be just lonely citizens. It will include powerful organizations such as National Association of Home Builders and the National Association of Realtors.
And if Republicans are truly serious about limiting 401k caps, the bankers will also become vociferously anti also.
So a lot of money and power will line up against tax cuts.
If only his constituents were involved, it’s easy to see which way Reed will jump.
Moneyed interests? The crystal ball clouds up.
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