A pro-Trump group is running ads in 10 swing House Democratic districts across the US — including those of Rep. Laura Gillen on Long Island and Josh Riley in the Hudson Valley — to push tax-cut extensions.
“Did you see Congresswoman Laura Gillen just voted to let taxes go up by $4 trillion?” says the radio ad bankrolled by Unleash Prosperity Now.
Unleashed Prosperity Now was founded by Stephen Moore, an economic adviser who helped craft President Trump’s and the GOP’s “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” of 2017, which expires at year’s end.
“She said she was only going to tax the rich,” a man in the radio ad says of Gillen.
A woman in the ad responds, “The Democrats always say they’re only going to soak the rich.
“But bring your umbrella because we’re all going to get drenched.”
The 2017 law cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, doubled standard deductions and expanded the child tax credit.
But it also capped deductions for state and local taxes (SALT) at $10,000 and eliminated other deductions or exemptions.
The cap on SALT hit well-to-do residents who pay high personal income and property taxes in the high tax and spending Democratic-run states including New York, New Jersey and California.
Moore told The Post that the cap on the SALT deduction is “horrible policy” but acknowledged it is probably here to stay, although it would have to be increased to win House Republican votes in New York and New Jersey.
Trump also wants to scrap taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security benefits in the next budget.
The president last week proposed massive cuts at federal agencies — with the exception of the Defense Department — to help pay for the tax reductions.
Moore said Democrats in swing districts have to be held accountable for votes that would raise taxes if the 2017 reductions are not renewed.
He expects to expand his group’s tax-cutting-ad campaign — which already runs into the six figures — to keep the pressure on lawmakers.
“The average family will see a $2,000 to $3,000 increase in taxes if the bill doesn’t pass. Everyone’s taxes will go up. It will be a real catastrophe,” he said.
The Gillen and Riley campaigns had no immediate comment.
