Criticism of Congressman Suozzi’s Tax Proposal Intensifies
A Republican candidate aiming to replace Long Island Congressman Tom Suozzi is taking issue with the Democrat’s plan to increase federal taxes for individuals earning over $400,000 annually.
Greg Huck, an Air Force veteran and lawyer, described Suozzi—who labels himself a moderate—as akin to New York City’s prospective socialist mayor, Zoran Mamdani. He even referred to him as “Tom the Tax Man.”
“There’s really not much of a difference between a socialist tax hike and a Suozzi tax hike; they both push people out of New York,” Huck expressed to a news outlet.
He went on to criticize Suozzi’s actions, saying, “This week, Tom Suozzi won the Sophistry Award for the most deceitful attempt to mislead his constituents.” Huck questioned Suozzi’s judgment, asking, “What planet does he live on?”
Huck emphasized, “I’m not interested in raising taxes; I want to enhance your opportunities.”
Huck and other Republicans view Suozzi’s tax proposal as a political advantage for the upcoming elections in the 3rd Congressional District, which encompasses Nassau County and parts of Queens. In the 2022 election, Suozzi secured re-election by only a narrow margin of 3 percent against former Congressman Michael Lee Petri.
With Republicans currently controlling both Congress chambers, Suozzi’s wealthy tax hike proposal seems unlikely to gain traction this year.
Huck highlighted that the top 1% of taxpayers in New York already contribute over 40% of the state’s income taxes, suggesting that an increase would only heighten their financial strain.
He warned that Long Island has already seen a significant drop in affluent households and small business owners, leading to rising local costs as the tax base dwindles.
Migration trends indicate that states with high taxes and spending, like New York, are losing residents, while lower-tax states—such as Florida, Texas, and Tennessee—are seeing an influx, including many former New Yorkers.
“When top families retire, it impacts jobs, philanthropy, business activities, and local spending,” Huck pointed out.
He added, “Middle-class Long Islanders are burdened with soaring property taxes and fewer job opportunities.”
Interestingly, a Siena College poll released recently indicates that Suozzi’s proposal has some support; about 60% of registered voters across the state favor increasing taxes on the top 5% of earners. Among suburban voters, 61% backed taxing the wealthy.
Suozzi defended his plan, stating that a federal tax increase would be more equitable, affecting the entire nation without creating inter-state competition. He also mentioned that the additional revenue would help lower state and local taxes.
“We should focus on raising taxes at the federal level for the wealthiest Americans, not on a state or city level,” Suozzi said. He argued that New York’s current tax burden is already too high and might motivate more individuals to leave.
According to Suozzi, any extra funds generated should be reinvested into the state, particularly for local tax relief.
He pointed out, “While families and businesses are already struggling with the nation’s highest tax rates, New York sends more tax dollars to Washington than it receives back. We have to redirect that money to lighten the load for New Yorkers and help keep them here.”
Although it’s uncertain if Huck will secure the Republican nomination, Joe Cairo, the chairman of the Nassau County Republican Party, stated that criticizing Suozzi’s tax policy will remain a priority, regardless of who runs.
Cairo added, “Our team will soon announce candidates dedicated to offering meaningful tax relief as a counter to Suozzi’s extreme agenda, which involves voting against tax cuts and against increasing the SALT deduction for taxed Long Island homeowners.”
