Long Island Democrat Tom Suozzi said Tuesday that he would be willing to go to war against Bronx Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other members of the leftist “Squad” if he can win a hotly contested House seat.
Suozzi, during a remote news conference, noted that he stood up to progressive Democrats during his previous term in Congress, including restoring state and local taxes. [SALT] deduction — a big problem for homeowners saddled with high property tax bills in the Third District covering Nassau County and eastern Queens.
“Every member of the ‘Squad’ voted against it,” Suozzi said, referring to legislation to restore the full deduction that he pushed for in 2019.
“I had a battle with both the far left and the far right and I will continue to do so for policies that benefit my constituents,” he said.
Suozzi said he also criticized the “far left for their attacks on Israel,” including “anti-Semitic comments.”
Suozzi faces Republican Mazi Pilip in the Feb. 13 special election for the ousted former representative’s seat. George Santos, and early voting will begin on Saturday.
Tom Suozzi said he would be willing to go to war against Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the leftist “Squad.” James Keivom
His comments distancing him from AOC and the left flank of the Democratic Party came as Pilip and the GOP attempted to link Suozzi to the leftist congresswoman and President Biden, who is unpopular in the district.
“I have always been willing to stand up to members of my own party when I believe they are wrong to fight for my constituents,” Suozzi said.
Pro-Pilip forces call the Democrat “Sanctuary Suozzi” for some of his controversial past statements and positions, including once boasting that he expelled federal immigration agents from Nassau County when he was the county’s chief executive.
Suozzi tries to distance himself from AOC and the Democrats’ left flank. fake images
A recent poll by Pix11/Emerson College shows a close race, with Suozzi at 45% support and Pilip at 42%.
Proponents of SALT, including Suozzi, argue that it provides relief to New York’s middle class burdened by high state and local property and income taxes.
Conservatives have long argued that the nation should not subsidize New York’s high state and local taxes with a federal tax break.
Suozzi campaigns at the Canton Manor restaurant in Little Neck to ask for votes from the Asian community. Gregorio P. Mango
Former President Donald Trump and the GOP-controlled House and Senate voted to limit the once-unlimited deduction for state and local taxes to $10,000 starting in the 2018 tax year.
Progressives, including AOC, who voted against legislation to remove the cap in 2019, believe it is an unnecessary tax break for the wealthy.
Pilip campaign spokesperson Brian Devine responded: “It’s ridiculous to think Tom Suozzi would take on The Squad at SALT. After all, he asked to join The Squad and was accepted by none other than AOC.
“Suozzi voted in unison with The Squad more than 90% of the time while in Congress, and failed to restore SALT during his time in Congress. Tom Suozzi’s ‘Let’s Fix It’ campaign logo is a joke since he was the one who ‘broke it’. Mazi Pilip will work with the majority of Congress to restore SALT,” the Pilip representative added.
AOC’s group declined to comment.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn