Swing-Seat Democrat Haunted By Tax Record As GOP Eyes Pickup Opportunity
Politics
Swing-Seat Democrat Haunted By Tax Record As GOP Eyes Pickup Opportunity
(Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)
Ashley Brasfield Senior Politics Reporter June 23, 2026 4:09 PM ET June 23, 2026 4:09 PM ET Ashley Brasfield Senior Politics Reporter Font Size:Democratic New York Rep. Tom Suozzi has denied having a record of raising taxes, despite backing major local tax hikes as Nassau County executive and repeatedly opposing Republican-backed federal tax-cut legislation in Congress.
Suozzi has generally supported increasing the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap, though he twice voted against the Working Families Tax Cuts Act in 2025. The GOP-backed legislation extended Trump’s 2017 tax cuts for many Americans and raised the SALT deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000, according to a CNN report. (RELATED: ‘I Failed’: House Democrat Who Voted To Fund ICE Publicly Apologizes)
The SALT deduction primarily benefits taxpayers who itemize their deductions, particularly higher-income homeowners in states with elevated property and income taxes, including New York, California, and New Jersey.
He has also rejected criticism of his broader tax record. During a November 2025 interview on Fox News with host Bill Hemmer, the congressman pushed back on claims that he has a history of raising taxes, calling such assertions inaccurate. While arguing he opposed local tax increases, Suozzi advocated for higher taxes at the national level.
“Wherever you go in the country, I am all for you paying higher taxes anywhere in the country,” Suozzi said. (RELATED: Democrat Rep Tom Suozzi Blurts Out He’s ‘All For You Paying Higher Taxes Anywhere In The Country’)
In a recent interaction, Suozzi was asked why he voted to “raise taxes on constituents 12 times, according to some sources,” according to a video obtained by the Daily Caller. The congressman responded that those sources are “completely wrong.”
New York ranks last in state tax competitiveness, meaning an expanded SALT deduction cap would provide significant tax relief for many homeowners in the state, according to the Tax Foundation’s index.
The State Tax Competitiveness Index ranks states based on more than 150 factors across five major tax categories — corporate, individual income, sales and excise, property, and unemployment insurance taxes — to determine an overall tax climate ranking.
Supporters of the bill argued that increasing the SALT deduction would have delivered substantial tax relief to many homeowners in the district Suozzi represents. The issue is particularly significant in Nassau County, where the median household income is $146,202, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey five-year estimates for 2020–2024.
The typical Nassau County homeowner impacted by the expanded SALT cap would have saved an estimated $7,200 under the expanded deduction — the largest projected benefit among the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas, Redfin News reported.
Although Suozzi has generally supported efforts to modify the SALT deduction cap, his congressional voting record on taxes extends beyond that issue. He has opposed broader tax legislation that included SALT-related changes alongside other tax provisions.
In 2017, Suozzi voted twice against the $1.5 trillion Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which reduced federal income taxes for many Americans while capping the SALT deduction at $10,000. The following year, he also voted against the Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018, which would have made those tax cuts permanent.
His record on taxes also drew attention during his time in local government. After being elected Nassau County Executive in 2001, Suozzi backed a 15% property tax increase that was described as the “biggest single tax hike in Nassau history,” according to a New York Times (NYT) report. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Dem Rep Takes ‘Fake’ Phone Call To Dodge Question About LA Riots)
The following year, his proposed 2003 budget included what contemporaneous reports described as “a painful array of tax hikes and program cuts,” including a 19.4% property tax increase.
In 2004, Suozzi supported a multiyear fiscal plan that included scheduled property tax increases in two consecutive years, 2006 and 2007. The proposal drew attention because it called for taxes to be raised in two consecutive years despite Suozzi’s earlier characterization of a 2003 tax hike as a “one-shot, one-time tax increase” that would require “no more” increases, according to a NYT report.
Suozzi Property Tax Increase 06_07 by ashley
His record on tax increases continued into 2009, when he proposed and implemented a 2.5% energy tax on electricity, natural gas, home heating oil, propane, and firewood, the Long Island Herald reported. (RELATED: Tom Suozzi Says He Didn’t Pay Attention To Epstein Story Because It Wasn’t ‘Big Issue’)
The tax applied across Nassau County and was later repealed months after taking effect following public opposition, according to the outlet.
Suozzi’s personal finances and stock trading activity while serving in Congress have also reportedly drawn scrutiny. Suozzi’s stock portfolio posted one of the stronger performances among Democratic members of Congress in 2025, increasing by approximately $2.5 million and reaching an estimated value of $9.5 million, the New York Post reported, citing Quiver Quantitative.
The gains reportedly outpaced those of other high-profile congressional investors, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Suozzi’s investment activity has also been examined in connection with alleged STOCK Act disclosure issues, including a reported instance involving a $50,000 stock sale, according to a Fortune report.
Since entering Congress, he has reportedly had multiple STOCK Act-related disclosure filings flagged, including one in 2024, according to a Newsday report.
The issue has drawn additional attention, given Suozzi’s support for legislation that would prohibit members of Congress from trading individual stocks, according to Newsday.
Financial disclosure records also indicate that Suozzi’s net worth has increased substantially since first taking office in 2017. In addition, records show that his congressional committee has paid more than $37,000 in rent to a property associated with Suozzi, according to a New York Post report. (RELATED: Vulnerable Democrat Pursues ‘Shameless’ Campaign Tactic — After Being Called Out The First Time)
When asked about Suozzi’s recent comments and record, National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole told the Caller, “Two-Faced Tom Suozzi is supposed to be fighting to make Long Islanders’ lives better. What has he done instead? Fought to raise their tax and siphon away more of their hard-earned money twelve times. Meanwhile, he gets richer. He’s a self-serving hack, and his time in Congress is up.”
The Caller reached out to Suozzi for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
