House Budget Passes Despite Several NY Nays

Several New York Republicans broke with their party today, but the House of Representatives was still able to pass a $4 trillion budget that’s the first step in a major tax overhaul. The vote was 216-212. Among the Republicans voting against the budget plan, which clears the way for a $1.5 trillion tax cut package, were: Elise Stefanik of New York’s 21st district, John Katko of the 24th , Claudia Tenney of the 22nd and John Faso of the 19th. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, a Democrat, warned in a report Thursday that the elimination of deductions for state and local taxes would cost New Yorkers a combined $72 billion . Faso said in a statement that he couldn’t vote for a bill that “singled out for elimination the ability of New York families” to make such deductions.