SALT Tax Relief: Lobbying Trump While Voting Against Constituents

Why This Matters for NY-23

The $10,000 SALT cap costs NY-23 middle-class households $2,000-$5,000 annually in higher federal taxes. Langworthy met with Trump to lobby for SALT relief as a “top priority,” then voted for a tax package that included corporate tax cuts but no SALT relief. Constituents got the promise; corporations got the tax cut.

Statement

Source: Public statements and Trump meeting, September 2025 Reported by: WGRZ Buffalo, Roll Call

Rep. Langworthy met with President Trump to lobby for restoration of the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction, which disproportionately affects New York taxpayers.

“New York families are being crushed by high taxes. We need to restore the SALT deduction to give our constituents relief.”

He emphasized this was a top priority for his district, where the $10,000 SALT cap created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act significantly increased tax burdens.

Congressional Record

September 2025: Tax Package Vote

• Langworthy vote: YES
• Action: Voted for tax package that did NOT include SALT deduction increase
• Package included:
  • Corporate tax rate reduction from 21% to 15%
  • Extension of individual tax cuts expiring in 2025
  • No meaningful SALT relief despite his lobbying
• Source: Roll Call, WGRZ Buffalo

What He Lobbied For vs. What He Voted For:

Context

The SALT Cap Impact on NY-23

According to Tax Foundation analysis:

• Average impact: NY-23 households earning $75K-$200K pay $2,000-$5,000 more annually
• High-tax areas: Jamestown, Olean, Hornell residents particularly affected
• State/local taxes: New York’s combined state and local taxes among highest nationally

The Trade-Off Langworthy Made

The tax package he voted for prioritized:

1. Corporate tax cuts: Reduced rate from 21% to 15% (estimated $1.8 trillion cost over 10 years)
2. High-income cuts: Extended cuts that primarily benefit top earners
3. No SALT relief: Left $10,000 cap in place despite lobbying Trump about it

What Constituents Said

WGRZ Buffalo interviewed NY-23 residents:

“He told us SALT was his priority, then he voted for a bill that gave corporations billions while we’re still capped at $10,000. That’s not representing us.”

Roll Call noted Langworthy was among several House Republicans who “publicly lobbied for SALT relief but voted for the package without it when leadership applied pressure.”

The Sequence

1. Early September: Langworthy meets with Trump, emphasizes SALT as “top priority”
2. Mid-September: Tax package negotiations include corporate cuts but minimal SALT relief
3. Late September: Langworthy votes YES on final package despite lack of SALT increase
4. Outcome: Corporations got tax cuts, NY-23 constituents still face $10K SALT cap

By The Numbers

• SALT cap cost to NY-23 households: $2,000-$5,000/year average for middle/upper-middle class
• Corporate tax cut benefit: ~$1.8 trillion over 10 years, primarily to large corporations
• SALT relief in package: Minimal to none despite bipartisan support for $20K cap

In Plain Language

The SALT deduction lets people deduct their state and local taxes from federal income. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act capped this at $10,000 — hitting high-tax states like New York especially hard.

Langworthy:

1. Met with Trump to lobby for SALT relief
2. Called it a “top priority” for his district
3. Voted for a tax package that cut corporate taxes from 21% to 15%
4. That same package kept the $10,000 SALT cap unchanged

The corporate tax cut costs about $1.8 trillion over 10 years. A higher SALT cap would cost a fraction of that. Langworthy lobbied for one and voted for the other.

Sources

• WGRZ Buffalo: “Langworthy lobbies Trump on SALT deduction” (Sept 2025)
• Roll Call: “House Republicans cave on SALT despite promises” (Sept 2025)
• Tax Foundation: Analysis of SALT cap impact by congressional district
• Congressional Budget Office: Cost estimates for tax package components

Note: This entry documents publicly available information from news reports, congressional records, and tax policy analysis. Readers may draw their own conclusions.

Last updated: December 21, 2025