Horsford on Trump Visit to Las Vegas: Disingenuous at Best
NORTH LAS VEGAS – Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) responded today to news that President Donald Trump will visit Las Vegas tomorrow, in part to highlight legislation that offers a stripped down version of Horsford’s bill to end taxes on tips and support tipped workers.
The president’s trip comes at the end of his first week back in office, where he issued hundreds of Executive Orders upending years of American policy and tradition, both at home and abroad.
“One week into President Trump’s second term, Nevadans have seen him free hundreds of violent January 6th felons, attempt to deny citizenship to American-born children, and move to increase drug prices,” Rep. Horsford said. “His pardons make our communities less safe. His attack on babies born here undermines the 14th Amendment. And his attempts to increase drug prices help his billionaire friends at Big Pharma, at the expense of seniors who need medications to survive.
“What Nevadans haven’t seen is a single proposal to help small businesses thrive, or support families as they make ends meet,” Horsford continued. “And his appearance in Las Vegas tomorrow to tout the No Tax on Tips Act is disingenuous at best. I’m a cosponsor of this bill – I know as well as anyone what it will do, and what it won’t. I signed on because it’s a chance for part of my TIPS Act to make it through this Republican Congress.”
The No Tax on Tips Act borrows from Congressman Horsford’s Tipped Income Protection and Support (TIPS) Act. Trump proposal would not end taxes on tips – it would provide a modest adjustment, but does not go far enough. It leaves in place the sub-minimum wage of $2.13 that many tipped workers endure across the country, and leaves intact loopholes that allow the rich to evade taxes by gifting their fortunes to family members as “tips”. Finally, Trump’s proposal does not differentiate between payroll tax and income tax, creating confusion for workers who would be undermining their social security in retirement if they don’t contribute payroll taxes. All three problems are addressed in Horsford’s TIPS Act.
“Instead of touting half-measures to Nevadans, President Trump should learn from us,” Rep. Horsford added. “Our state ended the sub-minimum wage because we care about our workers, and we balk at loopholes for the ultrarich because we believe in everyone paying their fair share. I’m more than happy to work with President Trump to include these core Nevada values into his policy proposals going forward.”
More information about Congressman Horsford’s TIPS Act is available here.
More information about how Trump’s pardon will bring violent January 6th criminals back into Nevada communities is available here.