Ending taxes on tips brings unity in Nevada’s battleground politics
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Momentum grew this week for an end to taxes on tips as Nevada’s U.S. senators and the Culinary Union announced their support for former President Donald Trump’s proposal.
Culinary Union officials initially dismissed the idea as a campaign stunt when Trump announced his intention to end the tax during a rally at Sunset Park on June 9.
A CBS News report described it as “a pitch to win over voters in the battleground state that is largely dependent on the hospitality industry.”
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The idea came out of the blue, but it could swing the state to the red — as in Republican red.
“When I get to office, we are going to not charge taxes on tips,” Trump said. “We’re not going to do it, and we’re going to do that right away, first thing in office, because it’s been a point of contention for years and years and years.”
Democrats and the union changed the narrative this week as U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen signed on as co-sponsors to the bipartisan No Tax on Tips Act. U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) has joined the cause.
The idea has grown to become a plank in the Republican National Committee’s platform going into next week’s Republican National Convention.
Michael McDonald, chairman of the Nevada Republican Party, told 8 News Now the idea came out of discussions he had with Trump about working people. But Trump’s mention of the idea in Las Vegas was unrehearsed, he said.
“These are issues we talked about, kitchen table. I’m not the only one to talk to him about it, but this is something where it’s very meaningful for me. So, when you saw it come out, it was not rehearsed. It was something he’s been looking at for awhile,” he said.
“I know he’s talked to waitresses and staff before throughout, even members of his own staff here at the Trump Tower,” McDonald said.
“When you’re here in Vegas, it was perfect,” he said, but added that the change would benefit people in hospitality jobs nationwide.
McDonald described a tip as a gift — not income to be taxed.
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Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge applauded the idea in a Friday statement.
“For decades, the Culinary Union has fought for tipped worker’s rights and against unfair taxation and we are proud to fight alongside Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Senator Jacky Rosen, and Congressman Steven Horsford for tipped worker tax relief,” Pappageorge said.
“Workers, unlike big corporations and the super-rich, are willing to pay their fair share and Culinary Union will always fight to protect workers and against unfair taxes,” he said.
“Culinary Union applauds Senator Rosen, a former Culinary Union member and tipped worker, and Senator Cortez Masto for joining bipartisan legislation to provide relief to hospitality workers in Nevada. Real solutions are what workers rely on and we are proud to have senators who are fighting to deliver real results for working families,” Pappageorge said.
When Rosen signed on to the No Tax on Tips Act, Republican opponent Sam Brown criticized her for it. Trump endorsed Brown in the U.S. Senate race the same day he brought up tips.
“I’m pleased to see that Jacky Rosen is finally supporting a solution for working families, an idea championed by President Trump and me. Having worked in an Amazon warehouse to support my family, I understand the struggle of putting in 10- or 12-hour days just to make ends meet. Nevada workers deserve to keep more of their hard-earned money, and our plan to end taxes on tips will do just that. Nevadans won’t forget that Jacky Rosen had nearly 8 years to address this issue and did nothing. Once again, Jacky Rosen has failed us,” Brown said.
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