WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- Since November, it seems that every Republican has made a pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago, the Florida-based winter White House owned by President-elect Trump.
Last weekend, Congressman Mike Lawler made such a trip with several of his Republican colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In an interview on Monday afternoon, Lawler shared insights from his meeting with President Trump, where discussions centered on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap, upcoming reconciliation efforts, and other critical issues impacting New York and the nation.
For Congressman Lawler, the meeting marked his first visit to Mar-a-Lago, though it was not his first encounter with President Trump. Lawler described the session as “positive and productive,” with SALT reform taking center stage.
SALT refers to the State and Local Tax deduction. Previously, it was unlimited, but was capped at $10,000 starting in the 2018 tax year. Lawler is one of the members of Congress leading the charge to lift the cap because it disproportionately hurts taxpayers who live in high tax states such as New York.
“[President Trump] reiterated his support for lifting the cap on SALT. He agrees with us that this is important for New York and he wants to get it done,” Lawler said.
The congressman emphasized the urgency of addressing the SALT deduction cap, which he has described as “non-negotiable.”
“If no tax bill is passed, SALT comes back in its entirety, but it would be accompanied by the largest tax increase in American history,” Lawler warned, stressing the need for negotiation to avoid such an outcome.
The timeline for reconciliation is aggressive, with Speaker Mike Johnson aiming for a finalized bill by April, but no later than Memorial Day. Lawler noted the fast-paced schedule, saying, “The objective is to get this done within the first 100 days or so.”
When asked about potential compromises, Lawler avoided specifics but maintained a firm stance on increasing the SALT cap beyond the current level. “The current number is woefully insufficient. Just doubling it is not going to address the issue,” he stated.
Congestion Pricing and Wildfire Management
Beyond SALT, the congressman addressed other topics discussed during the Mar-a-Lago meeting, including congestion pricing in New York City and wildfire management in California. Lawler cited courts that have called the Federal Highway Administration’s approval of New York’s congestion pricing plan as “arbitrary and capricious,” as a full environmental review was not conducted.
Congestion pricing began on Jan. 5. Motorists are charged a toll if they drive on 60th Street or south of that location, excluding certain roads, such as FDR Drive and the West Side Highway. The toll depends on the time of day, the type of vehicle being driven and whether or not E-ZPass is utilized. Motorists will also receive a credit if they alread paid a toll to cross the Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Queens-Midtown Tunnel and Hugh L. Carey Tunnel.
“I happen to believe that President Trump and the administration would have ample grounds to revoke the approval,” he said. Lawler added that he would attempt to overturn the congestion pricing scheme from all angles, looking at executive, administrative and legislative means to fix the issue.
Regarding wildfires, Lawler echoed President Trump’s previous criticisms of Governor Newsom’s handling of the crisis.
“It’s very clear that California has failed woefully in addressing wildfires, both from a water standpoint and from a forest management standpoint,” Lawler said, urging reforms to prevent future disasters.
As President Trump prepares to take office next week, Congressman Lawler expressed readiness to collaborate with the administration on challenges facing New York and the nation. “This is the job. It’s the responsibility of all of us to work collaboratively to get stuff done,” he stated.
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