New York Assemblyman Alex Bores has proposed a bill that would impose a 100% state income tax on residents who receive money from the Trump administration's $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund. Bores, who is also a candidate for the U.S. House, criticized the fund as an 'illegal slush fund' intended to benefit individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol insurrection. He stated, 'If you storm the Capitol and you take from this slush fund, too bad we’re taking it.'
The proposed legislation, called the Anti-Insurrectionist Act, aims to ensure that no New York resident benefits from what Bores describes as a politically motivated payout. Bores expressed that while they cannot prevent actions taken by Trump at the federal level, they can impose state-level taxes on funds received for participating in actions against democracy.
The White House has not commented directly on Bores' proposal, referring inquiries to the Department of Justice, which has not responded. Bores' proposal aligns with a similar initiative by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has suggested a 100% tax on funds received by residents from the same federal program.
The 'anti-weaponization' fund has faced bipartisan criticism and is associated with a settlement involving Trump and the IRS. The fund is intended to address claims from individuals who allege they were targeted politically. Bores' memo indicates that if the bill passes, New Yorkers receiving funds from this program would be taxed at a rate of 100%.