Cuomo Says Republican Budget Votes Are Committing 'Modern-Day Treason'

Gov. Andrew Cuomo criticized two New York Congressmen for their votes in support of moving a Republican tax plan forward — the only two Republicans in their delegation to vote yes.

“I think it’s modern-day treason against the state," Cuomo said of Rep. Chris Collins and Rep. Tom Reed in a conference call with California Gov. Jerry Brown and reporters. "I think they are the Benedict Arnolds of today, because they voted against the interests of the people in their district.”

The budget resolution allows the GOP to rewrite federal tax laws. And its plan right now is to eliminate the ability of individuals to deduct state and local taxes from their federal returns. The Government Finance Officers Association says 35 percent of New York residents claim the deduction, at an average value of $22,169.

Collins said this week that House GOP leaders promised to address his concerns, perhaps by limiting the deduction to those who have lower incomes. Another solution could be to create a homeowner deduction or tax credit that bundles the current state and local tax and mortgage interest deductions.

"Only in King Andy’s world is fighting for lower taxes treasonous," Collins tweeted Friday afternoon.

Reed is a member of the committee working on a fix.

Cuomo said the proposed changes are complex, and Republicans are still keeping many details under wraps. But he promised to keep up the pressure on members of the New York delegation who vote to eliminate the state and local deduction.

"Maybe it's a confusing topic and people don't understand it today," Cuomo said, "but I guarantee you they will understand it a year from today when they walk into an election booth."