Liberal Tax Law Professor Stumped As Kennedy Grills Her On People Leaving Blue City

Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy grilled a progressive tax law professor on Tuesday about why so many wealthy people are fleeing New York City.

UCLA Tax Law and Policy professor and former Biden Administration official Kimberly Clausing testified Tuesday before the Senate when Kennedy asked her about Manhattan.

“Why do you think so many wealthy people are leaving New York City?” Kennedy asked.

“New York City is an incredible city of innovation, immigration, entrepeneurship-”

“Why but why are wealthy people leaving?” Kennedy jumped in. (RELATED: Housing Market Booms In New York City Suburbs As People Flee Coronavirus Epicenter)

“I think there are big advantages to living near centers of entrepreneurial activity and we see that on the west coast,” Clausing said.

“You think they’re leaving to be nearer to centers of entrepreneurial activity, do you?”

“Well I don’t think there are people who are fleeing New York City-”

“Sure there are! There’s thousands,” Kennedy cut in. “Study after study after study. Why are so many wealthy people leaving New York City?”

Why are so many people leaving New York City?
#Taxes pic.twitter.com/a0aGBveMcc

— John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) April 19, 2023

“I think there’s an enormous number of wealthy people who are in New York City,” Clausing said before Kennedy again jumped in.

“But why are so many leaving?” Kennedy pressed.

“I can’t speak to why particular people are-”

“I can tell you why, it’s taxes,” Kennedy again chimed in. “You know that, as well as I do, it’s taxes.”

“I think if you look at the economic-”

“Some of it’s crime,” Kennedy interrupted. “But most of it is taxes. People vote with their feet the same reason people are leaving California and moving to Austin.”

Clausing wrote a book in which she called for a carbon tax to discourage the use of fossil fuels and an overhaul of the tax system which would hike taxes. She also acknowledged the importance of open trade in the book.

Wealthy New Yorkers have been leaving the city amid rising crime and high taxes. New York State has fared little better, as the state loses population to lower-tax states such as Florida.