GOP Offers Tax Relief – Blue States Say No?
Democrat Jim Himes admitted that a Republican-backed bill to raise the SALT deduction cap would help Connecticut taxpayers—right after voting against it.
At a Glance
Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) acknowledged the SALT cap increase to $40,000 would benefit his state.
He voted against the GOP’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which includes the SALT cap hike.
The bill also features tax cuts, border security measures, and $1.5 trillion in spending cuts.
Democrats failed to pass a similar SALT fix in 2021 and 2022 despite holding majorities.
The bill is expected to face resistance in the Senate over deficit concerns.
Himes Confesses SALT Cap Hike Helps Connecticut
In a rare moment of candor, Rep. Jim Himes openly admitted that a key provision in the Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”—raising the SALT deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000—would be “good for Connecticut.” That’s not surprising: the existing cap disproportionately burdens residents in high-tax states like Connecticut, New York, and California.
But in a twist that defies political logic, Himes voted against the bill anyway. It’s a move that undermines his own constituents’ tax relief and illustrates the deep partisan divide over even popular tax policy proposals.
GOP Delivers on a Blue-State Priority
The GOP’s SALT fix is only part of a much broader package. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” combines Trump-era tax cuts, immigration enforcement, energy independence measures, and mandatory work requirements for Medicaid and food stamp recipients—all aimed at reining in federal spending while growing the economy.
Despite the bill delivering a win for blue-state taxpayers, every Democrat voted against it, choosing political posturing over constituent benefit. This comes after years of Democratic promises to undo the 2017 Trump tax law’s SALT cap—which they failed to accomplish while in power.
Watch the full debate: Himes Discusses SALT Deduction
SALT: From Battle Cry to Bipartisan Headache
The $10,000 cap on SALT deductions—originally implemented under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—has been a persistent sore spot for Democrats, especially those representing high-income, high-tax states. They’ve tried and failed multiple times to repeal or raise it.
So why vote against a bill that finally offers relief? Democrats argue that the SALT hike is tied to what they view as a toxic package of conservative reforms—tax cuts for the wealthy, border wall funding, and entitlement reform. But that misses the bigger point: the SALT fix they once championed is on the table, and they walked away from it.
Deficit Concerns: Convenient or Credible?
Opponents now cite the bill’s estimated $3.1 trillion hit to the federal deficit as reason for rejection. But Republicans argue these figures ignore the stimulative effects of tax cuts and the $1.5 trillion in spending reductions baked into the legislation. House Speaker Mike Johnson insists the bill targets waste and fraud while protecting core safety-net programs.
Critics might call this trickle-down economics—but the alternative appears to be stagnation and gridlock. Democrats’ sudden concern about deficit projections rings hollow in light of Biden-era spending spikes that added trillions to the national debt.
Conclusion: Blue-State Voters Left Behind
Rep. Himes’ admission that the bill’s SALT provision would help Connecticut—after voting it down—embodies the dysfunction in today’s Congress. Democrats had an opportunity to secure meaningful tax relief for millions of their constituents and chose political optics over practical solutions.
With the Senate likely to stall the bill further, one thing is clear: if blue-state Democrats won’t fight for SALT relief when it’s handed to them, their voters will be left wondering who, exactly, is on their side.