Freshman US Rep. Mike Lawler mentioned decrease Hudson Valley voters ought to ship him again to DC for an additional time period due to his stances on taxes, border safety and public security.
The Republican instructed The Submit’s editorial board Wednesday that there’s a stark selection between him and Democrat Mondaire Jones as they battle it out in New York’s seventeenth congressional district in one of the intently watched contests within the state.
“On affordability, he desires to extend taxes,” Lawler mentioned of Jones, a former one-term congressman seeking to make a comeback within the swing district.
Lawler mentioned he would battle to decrease taxes and on the very least protect tax cuts authorised by former President Donald Trump and the GOP-run Congress in 2017.
These tax reductions expire on the finish of 2025.
Lawler mentioned though company tax was slashed from 28% to 21% underneath Trump, a Democratic White Home underneath nominee and present Vice President Kamala Harris might carry them again as much as 28%.
Democrats are additionally seeking to increase revenue taxes on higher-end earners, Lawler mentioned.
He mentioned Jones — alongside with Vice President and Democratic White Home nominee Kamala Harris — need to increase the company taxes again to twenty-eight% from 21% and lift revenue taxes on increased finish earners.
“It might be the most important tax enhance in American historical past,” Lawler mentioned.
“He desires the Trump tax cuts to run out.”
The seventeenth District, which incorporates Putnam and Rockland counties in addition to components of Westchester and Dutchess, is one of some races in deeply blue New York that pundits assume can go both manner — and assist determine which get together controls the Home of Representatives subsequent 12 months.
The closeness of the race has pushed the controversy to the middle, with Jones campaigning as a coverage average after coming into workplace in 2021 on a decidedly progressive platform.
Lawler mentioned Jones’ report consists of “defunding police” — and he’s now shying away from previous statements and associations — together with being cozy with the onerous left “Squad” and democratic socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The Republican has backing of nearly each union representing regulation enforcement and emergency responders, together with the NYC PBA. Many Massive Apple cops and firefighters reside within the district.
Lawler mentioned he has a powerful report in Congress backing Israel, together with introducing and passing legal guidelines defending the Jewish state.
For his half, Jones and the Democrats have tried to hyperlink Lawler to Trump — an efficient method in some suburban races north of the town years in the past that the congressman mentioned now not has enamel based on polling.
“This isn’t 2020,” Lawler mentioned.
He mentioned voters, except for the Trump haters, not often carry up the ex-president.
Lawler even joked that many constituents who noticed the TV advert of Trump praising him as “spectacular’ appreciated it.
In the meantime, Lawler mentioned one-party Democratic rule of the statehouse in Albany has been a catastrophe for New York — and people insurance policies are additionally on the poll.
He referred to as ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s choice to power the closure of the Indian Level nuclear energy plant in Westchester “idiotic,” slicing off a significant energy provide for New York Metropolis and the area’s rising energy wants.
Lawler additionally predicted that Gov. Kathy Hochul will flip once more — after the Nov. 5 election — and revive the plan to impose a deliberate congestion toll to enter Manhattan Midtown.
Hochul in June suspended the proposal “indefinitely.”
He mentioned Hochul postponed it as a political ruse on the behest of Home Democratic chief Hakeem Jeffries, who feared at a backlash towards Home Democrats on the polls.
Lawler mentioned it’s no contest on who helps stricter border enforcement.
“[Jones] supported open borders, he wished to defund ICE [US Immigration and Customs Enforcement] he referred to as ICE brokers terrorists,” the congressman mentioned.