Long Island Democrat Tom Suozzi on Tuesday said he’s ready to go to war against Bronx Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other members of the left “Squad” if she succeeds in winning the hotly contested House seat.
Suozzi, during a remote news conference, said he debated with progressive Democrats during his previous stint in Congress, including restoring State and Local Taxes. [SALT] deduction — a big issue for homeowners saddled with high property tax bills in the 3rd District covering Nassau County and eastern Queens.
“All the members of the ‘Squad’ voted against it,” Suozzi said, referring to legislation to restore the full deduction that he rejected in 2019.
“I fought with the left and the right and I will continue to do so for policies that benefit my constituents,” he said.
Suozzi said he also slammed “the left for their attacks on Israel,” including “antisemitic comments.”
Suozzi will face Republican Mazi Philip in the Feb. 13 special election for the seat of former Rep. George Santos, with early voting starting on Saturday.
Tom Suozzi says he’s ready to go to war against Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the left’s “Squad.” James Keivom
His comments distancing himself from the AOC and the left wing of the Democratic Party come as Philip and the GOP seek to align Suozzi with prominent left-wing congressmen as well as President Biden, who is unpopular in the district.
“I’m always ready to stand up to members of my own party when I think they’re wrong to fight for my constituents,” Suozzi said.
Pro-Philip forces called the Democrat “Sanctuary Suozzi” for some of his controversial statements and past positions, including once boasting that he expelled federal immigration enforcement agents from Nassau County when he was the county’s chief executive.
Suozzi tried to distance himself from the AOC and the Democratic left wing. Getty Images
A recent poll conducted by Pix11/Emerson College showed a neck and neck race, with Suozzi recording 45% support and Philip at 42%.
Supporters of SALT, including Suozzi, argue it provides relief to New York’s middle class burdened by high income and state and local taxes.
Conservatives have long argued that the state should not subsidize New York’s high state and local taxes with federal tax exemptions.
Suozzi campaigned at the Canton Manor restaurant in Little Neck to solicit votes from the Asian community. Gregory P. Mango
Former President Donald Trump and the GOP-controlled House and Senate voted to cap the unlimited deduction on state and local taxes to $10,000 starting in the 2018 tax year.
Progressives including the AOC, which voted against legislation to eliminate the cap in 2019, believe it is an unnecessary tax break for the wealthy.
Philip’s campaign spokesman, Brian Devine responded, “It’s ridiculous to think that Tom Suozzi is going against The Squad at SALT. After all, he asked to join The Squad and was accepted by the AOC.
“Suozzi voted in lockstep with The Squad over 90% while in Congress, and he failed to restore SALT while in Congress. Tom Suozzi’s ‘Let’s Fix It” campaign logo is a joke because he is the one who “broke it.” Mazi Philip will work with the majority in Congress to restore SALT,” added the Philip representative.
The AOC camp declined to comment.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
