SALT Cap Sparks Debate Over Which Party Cares About the Middle Class

  • Republicans say repealing cap would help wealthy taxpayers
  • Democrats say the tax law is harming schools, smaller cities

Photographer: Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg

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The debate about the cap on federal deductions for state and local taxes has flipped the tables for lawmakers: Democrats are advocating for a large cut that would primarily benefit the wealthy. Republicans say no way.

The partisan squabbles over the SALT deduction put Republicans in a different position than they were for much of the past two years as they crafted, debated and defended their 2017 tax overhaul. Democrats say -- and polls show that many people also believe -- that the law did too much to benefit corporations and the wealthy.