Elimination Disproportionately Impacts Cities and Hits Middle Class Families the Hardest

WASHINGTON, DC — In response to the Republican tax reform plan released today that included the elimination of the State and Local Tax Deduction (SALT), the President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu released the following statement:

“The President’s current tax proposal would repeal the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction, increasing taxes on millions of hard-working American families – this is unacceptable. Yet again, we are discussing a federal plan that puts ordinary American people at the losing end. Every state will be hurt by this change – in my home state of Louisiana alone this proposal would deny Louisiana taxpayers over $3 billion in deductions annually.

“Today, a bipartisan group of Mayors from around the country are here in D.C. to work with Congress for a fairer, more equitable tax code. Mayors are ready to speak out and educate Congress, and the public, on why the State and Local Tax deduction cannot and must not be eliminated.”

On Monday, 130 bipartisan mayors issued a letter to Congress urging members to maintain the SALT deduction. See full text of the letter here.

On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, a bipartisan delegation of Mayors met with leaders and members of the House and Senate urging Congress to include state and local officials early in the process and to follow the regular order that will allow for ample testimony, review and consideration of the impact that any changes to the tax code will have on middle class and working families and the overall economy.