In letter, Kim says Kean is breaking promise on SALT

As the Republican-controlled Congress continues to inch toward passing the President Trump-led “One Big Beautiful Bill,” Senator Andy Kim is taking aim at Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield), alleging in a letter that the GOP congressman has broken his promises to maximize tax relief for New Jerseyans.

One issue at the center of legislative negotiations is the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction, which allows taxpayers to deduct local and state taxes from the amount they owe the federal government. The deduction makes for a particularly potent political issue in New Jersey, which has among the highest tax rates in the country.

A tax bill passed in the first Trump Administration set a $10,000 cap on a filer’s SALT deductions, and legislators in the New York City metro area have largely pushed to raise or eliminate the cap. Congressional Republicans, though, reached a deal during “One Big Beautiful Bill” negotiations to raise the cap to $40,000 through 2029.

Democrats oppose the enormous legislative package for a variety of reasons, but Kim, knowing his audience, is pushing Kean to oppose the bill on SALT grounds. If the “One Big Beautiful Bill” fails, the $10,000 cap on SALT deductions will expire, assuming no subsequent legislation is passed.

“Since you arrived in Congress, I have seen you repeatedly fail to deliver on meaningful SALT cap relief, instead voting with your party yet again to kick the can for five years before raising taxes on our shared constituents,” Kim writes in the letter. “Ironically, the SALT cap from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expires this year if we do nothing. Doing nothing would be an improvement over the position that you and your party have put New Jersey families in for nearly a decade. Frankly, anything you vote for other than a full repeal of the SALT cap harms our constituents.”

Kim’s letter is a response to a letter that Kean sent to Kim and Senator Cory Booker early last month. In that letter, the congressman promised to only support a bill if it increases SALT relief and accused Kim and Booker of harming New Jerseyans.

“It is imperative that our fellow New Jerseyans both send fewer tax dollars down to DC in the first place, as well as receive more in return,” Kean wrote.

Kean, who represents New Jersey’s 7th congressional district, the state’s swingiest district and one of the nation’s wealthiest, has sparred with Democratic opponents over SALT. Democratic leaders are once again targeting Kean’s seat, and a number of Democrats have tossed their hats into the ring.

Kim said that regardless of how Kean votes on the package, the pair should hold a joint town hall in the 7th congressional district.

“Congressman Kean Jr., you once again have a choice before you: blindly stand with your party and raise taxes on your constituents or do the right thing and vote no on this bill,” Kim wrote. “In your letter, you asked me to ‘join you in delivering the SALT relief New Jersey needs and deserves.’ Regardless of how you vote, I’m asking you to join me in explaining to our shared constituents our votes on this bill.”