One of the most vulnerable Republicans in Congress and one of the most outspoken are feuding over the cap on state and local deductions in the GOP’s sweeping tax bill.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene struck first at Rep. Mike Lawler, noting his tenuous grip on his suburban New York seat and questioning why effort to help him and other Blue State Republicans with an increase in the SALT deduction.
Legislation released this week by the House Ways and Means Committee increased the cap on the state and local tax deduction to $30,000. But so-called SALT Republicans, including New Yorkers Lawler and Nick LaLota, aren’t satisfied. They’ve threatened to withhold their votes from the GOP’s domestic policy package.
“Mike Lawler has a toss up seat,” Greene wrote on X on Wednesday. “What’s the point in Republicans fighting to protect and keep re-electing ‘Republicans’ if they constantly undermine the agenda America voted for???”
Lawler’s reply was scathing.
“Shockingly the ‘Jewish Space Laser’ lady once again doesn’t have a clue what she is talking about,” he wrote in response. “By the way, the reason you enjoy a gavel is because Republicans like me have won our seats. Good luck being in the Majority if we don’t.”
Lawler has long been a critic of the Georgia Republican. In May 2024, he panned her effort to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson from his post overseeing the Republican Caucus, calling it “lunacy” and a “temper tantrum.”
“Here is Mike Lawler claiming HE gave us the majority NOT President Donald Trump!!!,” Greene wrote in a repost of Lawler’s comment. “Did you all vote for Mike Lawler and his agenda???”
In his response, Lawler played up his overperformance in New York’s swingy 17th district — and his importance to a caucus that rules by the slimmest of margins.
“I’m 1 of only 3 Republicans in a district won by Harris,” he wrote. “I know math is difficult, but: 220-3=217.”
