Bessent blasts Democrat-led states for blocking Trump tax relief in OBBBA

[mystery-ak]

Bessent blasts Democrat-led states for blocking Trump tax relief in OBBBA

Treasury secretary says Colorado, New York, Illinois and DC are blocking residents from tax relief under One Big Beautiful Bill Act

By Amanda Macias Fox News
Published December 10, 2025 12:25pm EST

FIRST ON FOX: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday criticized several Democrat-led states for refusing to adopt key provisions of President Donald Trump's landmark One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), the sweeping tax bill.

Bessent argued that states such as Colorado, New York and Illinois and the District of Columbia are "deliberately blocking their own residents from receiving" the tax relief provided under the law, calling the move "a blatant act of political obstructionism" and a "direct assault on the very families and workers liberal politicians claim to champion."

"By denying their residents access to these important tax cuts, these governors and legislators are forcing hardworking Americans to shoulder higher state tax burdens, robbing them of the relief they deserve and exacerbating the financial squeeze on low- and middle-income households," Bessent said.

In a separate post on X, Bessent circulated a meme casting New York’s Kathy Hochul, Colorado’s Jared Polis, and Illinois’ JB Pritzker as "the Grinches Who Stole Christmas."

https://twitter.com/SecScottBessent/status/1998808279015895258

The offices of Hochul, Polis and Pritzker did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. It is not immediately clear which deductions the governors are blocking.

He said Trump's legislation, which was signed into law on July 4, represents "the most pro-worker, pro-family tax reform in a generation," noting that it puts more money directly into the pockets of hardworking Americans through measures such as, "No Tax on Tips" for service-industry employees, "No Tax on Overtime" and a new tax deduction for seniors who rely on Social Security.

Bessent said Trump’s vision is "clear: real relief for the forgotten men and women of America, certainty for businesses and momentum for growth."

He urged the remaining holdout states "to immediately conform and stop punishing their citizens for partisan games," arguing that "the American people voted for bold change, not bureaucratic roadblocks."

Bessent added that the Treasury stands ready to work with any state committed to delivering on that promise, "but we will not stand idly by as this obstructionism drags down the national recovery."

"This is about putting America first, starting with the families and workers who make our economy the envy of the world."

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bessent-slams-democrat-led-states-refusing-adopt-key-provisions-trumps-obbba

[mystery-ak]

@Kamaji your thoughts please.

[Kamaji]

@Kamaji your thoughts please.

Bessent is being a loudmouth, a bully, and speaking out of turn. 

Each individual state is master of its own state income tax law - as the founders intended - and there is no reason why a state should necessarily conform to federal tax law. 

Many states do, in fact, conform for simplicity sake; however, not all states automatically conform - that is determined by state law.  Some states do have automatic rolling conformity, which means they automatically in effect adopt changes to federal tax law without the legislature having to do anything.  Other states only conform to federal law as it was at a given date, which date does not change until the legislature amends the law, so those states do not automatically adopt federal changes. 

As a matter of policy, I would consider the non-automatic states to be more sensible because it means they’re not at the mercy of Congress. 

[mystery-ak]

I thought the article was a little vague to say the least.

The author implies that the Federal deductions in the OBBBA will not happen in the aforementioned states...naturally a state cannot do that.

I just got through reading the comments at the bottom of this article and I see that others had the same reaction as I...

[DefiantMassRINO]

Taxachusetts will remain Taxachusetts thanks to Federalism.

If the Taxholes don't spend Federal funds expeditiously, claw them back and give them to states with shovel-ready projects and with a history of good project and management.

The People's Democratic Republic of Dukakistan is notorious for sitting on Federal funds for years before actually spending them.  The longer the Federal funds are sequestered in the state coffers, the greater the probability they will be used for nonsense.

States need to actively complete for Federal funds rather than Congress just cutting them a blank check or a block grant.

Those states that have a recent history of keeping projects on-time and on-budget should get preference for future Federal funds.

The Commune-wealth wasted billions of Federal dollars on the Big Dig.  It was only when limits were put on Federal contributions for the project that Mass wound down and 'finished' the project.