Kamala Harris joins Trump in proposing not taxing tips. I think that’s going to happen.
No tax on tips Fan club expands
At a rally in Las Vegas, Harris calls for no taxes on tips, adopting an idea from Trump
“I promise everyone here: If I am president, we will continue our fight for America’s working families, including raising the minimum wage and eliminating the tax on tips for service and hospitality workers,” Harris said the idea could prove popular in swing state Nevada, where many casino and other service workers rely on tips.
In June, at his own rally in Las Vegas, Trump floated a plan to eliminate the tip tax, an idea he later said came to him after talking to a waitress in Las Vegas. Trump narrowly lost Nevada in 2016 and 2020, and the state is contested again this year. It is one of six states on the line in the presidential primary, according to the Cook Political Report, an independent election arbiter. The state is also a contested Senate seat. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) has previously spoken out in favor of eliminating the tip tax and is one of the most contested Democratic incumbents this year.
Trump accused Harris of copying his plan for political reasons. “This was TRUMP’s idea – she has no ideas, she can only steal from me,” he wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform. His campaign team began trying out a new nickname, calling her “Copy Cat Kamala” and complaining that her stance contradicted a proposal put forward by the Biden administration last year to implement a voluntary tip reporting program.
There will likely be a major debate in Washington over the tax code in 2025, as large portions of the 2017 tax cut law expire. The next president will have the opportunity to shape these changes during negotiations with Congress.
Bad politics, good politics
Policies that favor one group over another are popular but unwise. Why should waiters get tax breaks that no one else gets?
Most of this advantage goes to waiters who are lucky enough to work in an upscale restaurant or venue.
How about we treat everyone equally for a change? Of course, that would also eliminate the mortgage interest deduction. Good luck to the politician who suggests that.
Tax law is a complicated mess because there is a lot of bought nonsense at play in the “Me Too” votes.
Buy votesS
This is a way to buy votes. It doesn’t matter at all that Trump proposed it first.
Those who support Trump, especially because Trump proposed it, now have a choice.
I foresee a one-liner in the debate where Harris responds, “That’s the only good idea you’ve ever had, so of course I took it.”
Where this idea leads depends on who wins and whether one party achieves a triple victory.
What will happen?
- Republican Trifecta: No Tax on Tips
- Democratic Trifecta: No Tax on Tips
- Republican White House, but no three-way package: Democrats will not support the idea
- Democratic White House, but no trifecta: Republicans won’t support the idea
Trump shoots arrows that clearly miss their target
While Democrats rally around Kamala Harris, Trump is still fighting for the 2020 election.
In a feud the party thought was long over, Trump is dropping bombs on popular Republicans like Georgia Governor Brian Kemp instead of focusing on the economy.
For more information, see Trump is shooting arrows that are clearly missing their target. Will a recession save him?
