Congressman Mike Lawler, middle, with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, on his recent trip to WestchesterBy Dan Murphy
Congressman Mike Lawler welcomed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Yorktown on April 10. Both Rep. Lawler and Sec. Bessent discussed the following changes made for the benefit of ALL Westchester residents and families in The Working Families Tax Cuts Act.
In households across America, over 53 million filers claimed at least one of President Trump’s signature new tax cuts.
The average refund this filing season is over $3,400, an increase of 11 percent compared to last filing season.
The average tax cut for filers benefitting from one of President Trump’s signature tax cuts is over $800.
Over 6 million filers have claimed No Tax on Tips, with an average deduction of over $7,100.
Over 25 million filers have claimed No Tax on Overtime, with an average deduction of over $3,100.
Over 30 million seniors have claimed the Enhanced Deduction for Seniors, with an average deduction of over $7,500.
Over 1 million filers have deducted No Tax on Car Loan Interest on their new American vehicles, with an average deduction of over $1,800.
Over 34 million families have claimed the enhanced Child Tax Credit, which is permanently doubled and expanded by the Working Families Tax Cuts.
And the biggest tax change for Westchester homeowners is the quadrupling of the SALT Cap, which allows them to deduct up to $40,000 of their state and local taxes, up from $10,000. Many Westchester homeowners have property tax bills exceeding $25,000 per year.
Congressman Lawler was one of a few republican house members who held out on voting for the budget unless it included the increased SALT deduction.
“U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent joined me today for a roundtable discussion with local small business owners and community members in Jefferson Valley, focusing on the issues that matter most to families—affordability, taxes, and economic opportunity. From tax relief on tips and overtime to an expanded Child Tax Credit and a higher SALT cap, we walked through how these policies are putting more money back in people’s pockets and making it easier to live and work in the Hudson Valley.”
Yorktown Supervisor Ed Lachterman said, “Thank you, Congressman Lawler, for bringing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant to Yorktown. It was a great roundtable discussion about what the government is doing to help and where we can use more help. Your support of the state and local tax exemption, SALT, has really been a gamechanger in our community. It was wonderful to hear from our seniors and young families how the tax deductions are helping them get ahead. Please keep up the great work!
The visit included a roundtable at the Yorktown Diner and a visit to Regeneron.
“Whether it’s a family-owned diner, a contractor, or a small retailer, these are the businesses that define our communities. When we lower their tax burden and make it easier to invest, they can hire more workers, raise wages, and continue serving families across the Hudson Valley. Financial Literacy Month is about giving families the tools to succeed, not just today, but for the long term, said Congressman Lawler.
“The Working Families Tax Cuts Act is very elegant because on one side, for businesses, it provides 100% expensing on factories and equipment, so you want to build your factory in the U.S., where we want to make it the best place to have guaranteed energy, the best workforce, and the best tax policy. On the other side of the bill, there is plenty for working Americans. I call that parallel prosperity, where Wall Street and Main Street can do very well together,” said Secretary Bessent.
“This district is a microcosm of America and spans industries. When I come through places like this, this is small-town America. Businesses and communities like this, I love coming out here. It’s the backbone of our economy.”
Editor’s Note: Living in NY-17, we are already receiving a barrage of mail and YouTube commercials attacking Congressman Lawler. One of the attacks that we find to be false and disingenuous is the claim that the tax cuts were exclusively for Billionaires and the rich.
In fact, many of the provisions of the budget bill include no tax on tips or overtime, a tax cut for seniors, an increase in the child tax credit, and a SALT increase, which affects most of our readers in Westchester, none are billionaires.
