Ignore, for the moment, my argument that it is patently unfair to require anyone to pay taxes on money he is legally obligated to pay (and not by choice) to another government. Disregard the fact that the limitation on the SALT deduction was a gratuitous slap in the face inflicted by red state representatives on blue state citizens. How do the politics of this issue shake out?
Imagine you are a moderately affluent resident of a blue state. You pay a hefty sum to your state and local governments in property taxes, because your state’s tax rate is high, and so are property values (think New Jersey or California). The Trump tax cut consequently increased your taxes. What are you going to do about it?
If your House and Senate members can’t reverse the impacts of the Trump legislation, you are fuel for a tax revolt in your state. That is what the GOP wants–to turn blue states red, by requiring them to cut taxes and services. From the progressive perspective, is this a risk you’re really ready to run? Is it really “progressive,” in the big picture, to encourage a reduction in the size of blue state governments?