A tax attack on New York

Senate Republicans’ just-revealed tax plan differs in many respects from the version cooked up by the House, but it has one disgusting feature in common. If either overhaul becomes law, the people of New York will get a brass-knuckle punch in the face — tens of billions of dollars taken right out of our economy, to help wealthy people and companies in other parts of the country.

That punch comes from ending individuals’ and families’ ability to deduct their state and local taxes from their federal bills. This is the largest daylight robbery in American history — a $1.3 trillion theft over 10 years, aimed vindictively at many of the most Democratic states in America.

The idea violates a basic American principle: that people should only be taxed once on what they earn. The feds have respected that basic idea since the passage of the federal income tax a century ago.

Republicans in Congress and the Trump administration pretend to respect the concept; in this very same tax overhaul, they let corporations deduct state taxes from their federal bills.

In fact, they also give individuals who earn income from other countries a credit against foreign taxes paid on their federal bill.

While companies and people with foreign income are respected, New York’s families — and those in California, New Jersey and other states — are screwed mightily.

For supposed conservative federalists to punish parts of the country that have, over many years, invested in having the governments closest to them provide services necessary to improve the quality of life — like policing, public schools, affordable housing and more — adds a second stinging layer of hypocrisy.

Worst of all, by singling out and exploiting a few economically productive states, turning them into seemingly bottomless piggy banks for the rest of the country, the gambit offends the notion that America is an interdependent union.

Taxpayers in the Empire State already get just 80 cents back for every dollar they send down to Washington, a worst-in-the-nation rate of return.

Yank the deduction, and watch that abysmal gap grow.

The House brings its plan to the floor this week, having only modestly scaled back the hit. Nine Republicans represent districts in New York State.

Standing on principle, the three from New York City and Long Island — Dan Donovan, Pete King and Lee Zeldin — say they’re voting against the bill.

Upstate, it’s another story. Two legislators have already caved, selling out the residents of their state. Shame on Chris Collins of the Buffalo area and Tom Reed of Corning. Without revenue from New York City and its suburbs, their districts would be dead in the water.

Four representatives have yet to decide. They are John Faso of Kingston, Elise Stefanik of far upstate, Claudia Tenney of Binghamton and Utica, and John Katko of Syracuse.

They have a choice: Vote for the most lopsided tax plan in generations, pummeling their home state, or stand up for New York.

We’re watching.