Culinary Union, Horsford hold panel for federal ban on taxing tips

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The Culinary Union is continuing to push for a federal end to taxes on tips.

Union leaders held a panel discussion with U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nevada, in Las Vegas on Thursday to discuss the issue.

While Nevada law sets a required minimum wage regardless of tips, the Culinary Union argues that other states lack similar protections, and workers need legislation from Congress to make a living.

"Tips are a gift," Horsford said at the panel. "They are not a guarantee. You can't live off a gift. You need the protection that comes with a liveable minimum wage."

Other lawmakers from Nevada have thrown their support behind a measure to exempt tips from all federal income tax.

U.S. Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nevada, is co-sponsoring one such measure in the House of Representatives.