Former Speaker Paul Ryan predicts 'big migration' from high-tax NYC to cities in Texas, Florida
'The cities that have it right are going to win,' Ryan said
Former Speaker Paul Ryan predicts ‘big migration’ from high-tax New York City to cities in Texas and Florida
The former GOP lawmaker talks about the impact of Republicans capping state and local tax (SALT) deductions during a talk at the George W. Bush Presidential Center’s Forum on Leadership on April 15, 2021.
Former House Speaker Paul Ryan predicted a "big migration" from high-tax cities like New York City and said Republicans' 2017 cap on state and local tax deductions, combined with the coronavirus pandemic, exposed the high cost of certain cities.
He made the remarks at the George W. Bush Presidential Center’s Forum on Leadership on Thursday.
WALL STREET WILL LEAVE NY IF 'TAX AND SPEND' CONTINUES: STEVE MOORE
"I think you're going to see a difference between cities like New York that do not appreciate job creators [and] businesses and cities like Dallas or in Florida," Ryan said. "So you're going to see a big migration based on cost, quality of government [and] entrepreneurship."
Ryan said the SALT cap enacted as part of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act of 2017 first exposed some big cities' problems.
House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 25, 2017, following a House GOP Caucus.
"In tax reform, our biggest pay-for that we believed in, and still do to this day, is capping the state and local tax deduction, SALT," he said.
"The day we passed that tax reform bill with the SALT … Tim Cook called me that day we passed it, he said I am now repatriating, I think it was $40 billion at the time, of money we have overseas … I'm going to hire 20,000 people in America somewhere. That somewhere is in Austin, Texas. I don't think he was going to put that up in California," Ryan said.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
At least 20 finance and tech companies are set to leave New York City for Florida, the New York Post reported. JetBlue is the latest company to consider relocating its head office to the Sunshine State when its lease ends in 2023, according to the New York Post.
"Policies make a difference on urban trends," Ryan concluded. "The cities that have it right are going to win."
Democrats appear to be inching toward repealing the SALT cap, which would disproportionately benefit wealthy Americans living in blue states.
Meanwhile, New York is set to raise taxes on its wealthiest residents after Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders reached a tentative agreement that would make the state's millionaires pay the highest income rate in the nation.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
The New York Times reported earlier in April that the State Assembly and Senate neared a deal to hike taxes on New Yorkers worth more than $1 million, part of a broader budget plan that would generate an additional $3.4 billion for the state.
FOX Business' Catie Perry and Megan Henney contributed to this report.