Frelinghuysen’s Vote On Tax Reform Sparks Outrage In New Jersey

Here’s a pop quiz, New Jersey. Name the only U.S. Representative from the Garden State who voted to ax the state and local tax (SALT) deduction that probably saves you thousands of dollars a year.

If you answered "Rodney Frelinghuysen," then you have an idea why many New Jersey residents are ticked off at the veteran GOP lawmaker.

Last week, as part of the Trump Administration's proposed, 10-year, $1.5 trillion tax reforms, Frelinghuysen voted in favor of a budget resolution that paved the way for a possible cut to SALT, which allows people to deduct certain taxes paid to state and local governments from their gross federal income.

Some experts said that cutting the SALT deduction would cost the average New Jersey resident thousands of dollars a year. Frelinghuysen's four GOP congressional peers from New Jersey all voted "no" on the resolution.

• See related article: Rep. Frelinghuysen Only NJ Congressman To Vote Yes To Tax Reform Resolution

Several local Democrat leaders panned Frelinghuysen's vote, calling it an affront to middle-class New Jerseyans.

“Rodney Frelinghuysen voted against the interests of his constituents in favor of the GOP budget that strips deductions for state and local taxes,” charged one of his congressional challengers in 2018, former U.S. Navy pilot and prosecutor Mikie Sherrill.

“The people of the 11th district of New Jersey must now prepare for upwards of $4,000 in extra taxes to be paid because of Frelinghuysen’s vote,” Sherrill said last week. “This Republican-supported tax increase will serve as the first step in giving tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans while hiking taxes on New Jersey’s families.”

• See related article: Frelinghuysen Votes Yes On Revised Health Care Bill

“With this budget, Representative Frelinghuysen is officially on the record supporting a middle-class tax increase – something he must explain to families and older Americans in New Jersey who will have less money in their pocket,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) spokesperson Evan Lukaske said.

• See related article: Frelinghuysen Had Millions In Health Care Stocks; Voted For Trumpcare, Report Says

State Assemblyman John McKeon wrote that he was "blown away" by Frelinghuysen's vote.

"As a part of the House leadership, Congressman Frelinghuysen could have stopped the loss of the state and local deduction," McKeon said. "Sadly, he simply followed along with a plan that will cost the average New Jersey taxpayer nearly $3,500 more a year."

FRELINGHUYSEN: ‘WHY I VOTED FOR THE BUDGET RESOLUTION’

Rep. Frelinghuysen issued the following statement about his vote.

“I voted for the budget resolution in the House to get my Appropriations bills done. My 12 bills are complete and through the House. Every member got their vote on them and I'll get mine on tax reform. The reality is that passage of the budget resolution was procedurally necessary to allow the House and the Senate to complete the FY 2018 Appropriations process.

“The Democrats want to stop the debate on tax reform because they don't want to lower tax rates for families or for businesses. They want bigger government and more spending.

“It has been three decades, 1986, since Congress considered tax reform. The budget resolution is non-binding and does not have the effect of law. However, it does provide for a full debate and consideration of individual tax rates, corporate tax rates and existing and, potentially, new deductions. It is long overdue and I will review any and all changes to ensure that they best serve the taxpayers of New Jersey and our nation’s economy.

“I know how important existing deductions are to my constituents, including the state and local tax deduction (SALT), which is critical for New Jersey. Once again, I will carefully evaluate any potential changes to SALT, along with other deductions, before I vote on any tax reform legislation.”

• See related article: Frelinghuysen Praises House Passage Of $1 Trillion Budget Bill

IS A COMPROMISE IN THE WORKS?

On Thursday, Nov. 2, the House Ways and Means Committee released the long-awaited tax reform plan. It contained an apparent compromise for SALT that will allow New Jersey homeowners to deduct up to $10,000 on their local property taxes, but not other taxes paid to state or local governments.

While the new bill would be a compromise from completely eliminating the SALT deduction, it would also eliminate deductions for state income or sales taxes. It's a quid-pro-quo that would slam the 1.8 million New Jersey households that deduct $17 billion in state income or sales taxes from their federal taxes, according to New Jersey Policy Perspective.

• See related article: How New GOP Tax Plan Could Impact New Jersey Residents

A 'SALTY' AFTERTASTE

However the final vote on the SALT deduction turns out, if social media is any clue, Frelinghuysen's vote may be an unpleasant taste that a large segment of his constituency remembers in 2018 when the veteran lawmaker is up for reelection.

Frelinghuysen's critics have been vocal about their disdain of the budget resolution vote, bombarding internet comment sections with a bloodhound-like tenacity and promising that, like the elephant that symbolizes the GOP, they will not forget that he said "yes" on Oct. 26.

• See related article: Internet 'Trolls' Hound Rep. Frelinghuysen On Twitter, Facebook

Send local news tips and feedback to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photo 1: Shutterstock

Photo 2: frelinghuysen.house.gov