ICMA urges its members to call their Congressional representatives to press them to fully preserve the deduction for state and local taxes. Congress may mark up a bill as early as October 30. The core messages that ICMA, the National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and Government Finance Officers Association (among others who are part of the Americans Against Double Taxation Coalition) want to get the word out about are:

• Eliminating or curtailing the state/local tax deduction violates the fundamental principles against double taxation and fiscal federalism, a principle our country has had since 1913 when the income tax was established.  
• Depending on what proposals emerge, there could be unintended consequences for home ownership and home values and could undermine the revenue base that supports our local public services.
• Research shows that 39% of taxpayers with annual earnings between $50,000-75,000 use this deduction, as do 70% of taxpayers with annual earnings between $100,000-$200,000.