Long Island Democrat Tom Suozzi said Tuesday he would be willing to take on Bronx Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other members of the leftist “Squad” if he wins a hotly contested House seat. Ta.
In a remote news conference, Suozzi noted that he sparred with progressive Democrats during his time in Congress over restoring state and local taxes. [SALT] Exemptions — A big problem for homeowners facing high property taxes in District 3, which covers Nassau County and eastern Queens.
“Every member of the ‘Squad’ voted against it,” Suozzi said, referring to a bill he pushed in 2019 to restore the full deduction.
“I have fought not only the far right but also the far left, and I will continue to fight for policies that benefit my constituents.”
Suozzi also said he condemned “the far left for attacking Israel,” including “anti-Semitic statements.”
Suozzi will face Republican Maj Pilip in a Feb. 13 special election to fill the seat of the expelled former congressman. George Santos as early voting begins Saturday.
Pilip’s comments, which distance him from AOC and the left wing of the Democratic Party, came as Mr. Pillip and the Republican Party sought to link Mr. Suozzi to incendiary left-wing congressmen and President Biden, who is unpopular in his district.
“I was willing to stand up to members of my party when I thought they were wrong to fight for their constituents,” Suozzi said.
Pro-Philip factions have dubbed the Democratic Party “Sanctuary Suozzi” because of some of the party’s controversial statements and past positions, including one in which Nassau County was the That includes bragging about driving federal immigration enforcement agents out of the county.
A recent poll conducted by Pix11/Emerson College found it to be a close race, with Suozzi’s approval rating at 45% and Pilip’s 42%.
SALT supporters, including Mr. Suozzi, say it will provide relief to New York’s middle class, which is burdened by high property taxes and state and local income taxes.
Conservatives have long argued that New York’s high state and local taxes should not be subsidized with federal tax cuts.
Former President Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled House and Senate voted to cap the previously unlimited state and local tax deduction at $10,000 starting in the 2018 tax year.
Progressives, including AOC, who voted against the cap bill in 2019, see it as an unnecessary tax cut for the wealthy.
The newspaper has reached out to Ocasio-Cortez and Pillip’s campaign for comment.
