Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, who represents New York’s 17th Congressional District that includes part of Westchester and Rockland, this morning broke with President Trump on Trump’s claim that the U.S. economy is the best it has ever been and Trump’s claim that talk of an affordability crisis is a Democratic hoax.
“No, it’s not a hoax issue,” Lawler said this morning in an interview on the cable network MSNow. “The issue of affordability is something I talked about extensively when I ran in ‘22 and again in ‘24 and now.”
Lawler said that as federal tax breaks for the middle class take effect in April, including an increase in the cap for deducting state and local taxes on federal tax returns and an increase in the standard deduction for seniors, he believes the economy is going to move in a better direction.
“The stock market has moved positively. Prices have come down from the highs of the Biden administration but there are still challenges,” Lawler said. “We have to be laser focused on it.”
Lawler said housing is one of the areas where the economy needs attention because the country needs an additional 8-1/2 million housing units. He said that health care is another, where he said there has been a 2,000% increase in insurance company profits. Lawler said that energy costs and food costs are other areas of the economy that need attention.
“That is my focus,” Lawler said. “The tax bill will take effect immediately so when people file this April they will see a significant tax reduction for the middle class and the working class and that will have a positive impact on the economy, but there is more work to do. We have a lot of work ahead.”
Lawler said that when President Trump speaks to the nation at 9 p.m. tonight, Dec. 17, ”I really do hope the focus is on the issue of affordability. It is what is on most peoples’ minds.”
Lawler said he believes that both Congress and the administration need to put forward plans to address the economy.
On another subject, Lawler said Congress needs to extend the subsidies for Obamacare premiums to support the American people. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson on Dec. 16 again blocked any House action to extend the subsides, which will result in health care insurance costs going up for tens of millions of people.
After his interview of MSNow’s “Morning Joe” program, Lawler said in an internet post, “With House leadership refusing to bring any proposal to the floor, I am signing another discharge petition to force a vote and prevent higher health care costs for families in the Hudson Valley. Allowing the enhanced premium tax credits to expire would mean immediate premium hikes for working families, seniors, and small business owners in NY-17.
“I continue to believe any extension should be targeted, fiscally responsible, and include income eligibility limits and safeguards against fraud, similar to the bipartisan discussions underway in the Senate. But when leadership blocks action entirely, Congress has a responsibility to act.”
