Marjorie Taylor Greene Rips Into Republican Colleague Over Tax Fight
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia ripped fellow GOP lawmaker Mike Lawler of New York for his vocal opposition to the State and Local Tax (SALT) cap in the Republican's "Big Beautiful Bill" backed by President Trump.
Newsweek reached out to Lawler's D.C. office via voicemail Wednesday for comment.
What To Know
The GOP bill was unveiled this week and prompted an uproar from Democrats as sweeping cuts to Medicaid were revealed.
The president has been vocal about getting his agenda passed through this bill, calling on Republicans to "unify" in backing it. Some Republicans, however, have floated opposition to the bill surrounding the SALT cap, arguing that there needs to be "good faith" negotiations and not a strongarming of a number.
A SALT cap limits state and local taxes that can be deducted from federal tax returns, according to Forbes, and has been most controversial in high-tax states like New York, New Jersey, California and Connecticut.
In 2018, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) capped $10,000 per year for joint filers and $5,000 for single filers. In the new GOP bill, the SALT cap has been raised to $30,000.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter on Wednesday, Representative Greene took a swipe at Lawler over SALT saying, "Mike Lawler usually isn't the guy in the conference with the best ideas, after all we lost a Republican held seat to a Democrat the last time Republicans voted for one of his 'great' strategy."
Greene continued, "Now Mike Lawler is a NO on Trump's big beautiful bill because he won't accept a SALT cap increase from $10K to $30K per year. And the deduction applies to those who make under $400,000 per year."
The Georgia lawmaker noted that taxes in New York are "ridiculous" and said if the cap increase for those making under $400,000 a year is not good enough, "then you need to either vote Republican in NY or you need to move!"
"The rest of America doesn't want to and shouldn't have to make up the difference!!!!!," Greene added while noting that Lawler's Congressional seat is "a toss up."
Greene concluded, saying, "What's the point in Republicans fighting to protect and keep re-electing 'Republicans' if they constantly undermine the agenda America voted for???"
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is seen speaks during the hearing on 'Unfair Play: Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" held by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Subcommittee at the U.S. Capitol on May 07,...
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is seen speaks during the hearing on 'Unfair Play: Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" held by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Subcommittee at the U.S. Capitol on May 07, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by) More
Lawler defended his position while speaking to CNN on Wednesday, saying on X, "My Republican colleagues need to remember that maintaining the majority means they have to work together with swing seats like mine, where SALT is a priority. It's time to negotiate; they need to pass the SALT, or I'm voting no."
The House Ways and Means Committee voted to push through Trump's tax agenda in a portion of the "big beautiful bill" in an overnight markup-still leaving SALT cap deductions up in the air though.
What People Are Saying
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, a Missouri Republican, in a statement on Wednesday: "America is one step closer to stopping the looming 22 percent average tax increase facing every American and, instead, rebuilding our economy for the working class."
Smith continued: "This cornerstone of President Trump's economic agenda will put the interests and needs of working families and small businesses ahead of Washington, bring jobs and manufacturing back to America, and usher in a new golden era of prosperity. The average family will avoid a $1,700 tax increase and instead have $3,300 more in income, and 6 million jobs will be saved. It's sad that every single committee Democrat voted for the largest tax hike in American history and against additional tax relief for families, farmers, and small businesses."
Concluding, Smith said, "Ways and Means Republicans will continue to work closely with President Trump and our House colleagues to get the One, Big, Beautiful Bill that delivers on the President's agenda to his desk as soon as possible."
Lawler on X responding to Greene: "Shockingly the 'Jewish Space Laser' lady once again doesn't have a clue what she is talking about. By the way, the reason you enjoy a gavel is because Republicans like me have won our seats. Good luck being in the Majority if we don't."
What Happens Next
It is unclear if the House will come to a consensus surrounding SALT or if House Speaker Johnson will need to rally hold out lawmakers like Lawler.
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