Sen Kennedy Says ‘the Jacka**ery Has to Stop… Fill Out a Hurt Feelings Report’ [WATCH]

Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana criticized Congressman Mike Lawler of New York on Friday over his demands to expand the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap in ongoing tax legislation negotiations.

Speaking on Fox News’ The Faulkner Focus, Kennedy said Lawler’s opposition to the Senate’s version of the reconciliation bill over SALT deductions was unwarranted and potentially damaging to the larger goal of preserving the 2017 tax cuts.

The House of Representatives narrowly passed the bill on May 22, with Lawler’s support secured after negotiators agreed to raise the SALT deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000.

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However, the Senate later reduced the cap back to $10,000, triggering backlash from some House Republicans, including Lawler.

Senator Kennedy, speaking with host Harris Faulkner, said it was time for members of Congress to move forward on the legislation, despite disagreements over individual provisions.

“Our quarterbacks are John Thune and Mike Crapo – they are rock stars trying to make everybody happy. It can’t be done. We have cussed and discussed and rediscussed. We need to start voting,” Kennedy said.

“Everybody needs to adult real hard and the jackassery has to stop. I have encouraged John and Mike to tell everyone look, we’ll start voting tomorrow at noon. If you are not happy, offer an amendment. We’ll have a full amendment process.”

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Kennedy emphasized that compromises are inevitable in legislation of this scale.

“But here is the bottom line: In any legislation of this magnitude, some people are just going to have to settle for a ham and egg sandwich without the ham. That’s just the nature of the beast. And I think that if you put everybody to the test and say look, this is why God made votes. It’s time, vote, I think the bill will pass.”

President Donald Trump previously weighed in on the SALT deduction debate, advising Rep. Lawler in May to drop his insistence on expanding the deduction cap.

The original $10,000 cap was introduced under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

The House-passed version of the current bill raised the cap to $40,000, but the Senate’s revision restored it to the 2017 level.

Some House Republicans expressed frustration with the Senate’s approach, especially after Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough struck down dozens of provisions from the revised legislation.

These developments have increased tensions between chambers as the reconciliation process continues.

Senator Kennedy directly addressed Lawler’s demands, calling them excessive.

“I love Congressman Lawler, I respect Congressman Lawler, but he and about four of his colleagues are demanding that the American people spend over $300 billion – not million, $300 billion to make them happy and that is unacceptable,” Kennedy stated.

“If the congressman wants to vote against the bill, have at it. But it is time to vote. I think the change – I wouldn’t make any changes to the SALT provisions. I wouldn’t. If you are unhappy with that, vote against it or fill out a hurt feelings report. But it is time to vote.”

Kennedy reiterated that giving in to demands over SALT deductions could jeopardize broader tax relief for Americans.

“They want us to spend over $300 billion to make them happy and they say they will vote no if we don’t,” he said.

“I say let’s don’t do it and if they want to vote for the largest tax increase in American history, they’ve got to do what they’ve got to do but they better be prepared for the consequences.”

The final version of the reconciliation bill remains pending in the Senate, with voting expected to proceed despite ongoing disputes over specific provisions, including the SALT deduction cap.

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