Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday backed the elimination of taxes on tips for hospitality and service workers, endorsing a policy first proposed by former President Donald Trump.
Speaking to a crowd of thousands at a Las Vegas rally, which included members of the state’s powerful culinary workers union, Harris promised to advance policies to benefit working families, pointing to the elimination of taxes on tips as an example.
“It is my promise to everyone here when I am president, we will continue our fighting for working families of America, including to raise the minimum wage and eliminate taxes on tips for service and hospitality workers,” she said.
Harris’ support for eliminating taxes on tips comes after Trump proposed the idea at a campaign rally in Las Vegas in June.
Harris is seeking to coalesce support from the sizable coalition of service industry workers in the key battleground state. The vice president recognized members of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 in attendance at the rally, one day after the union endorsed her.
After Trump proposed eliminating taxes on tips in June, the union’s secretary-treasurer, Ted Pappageorge, pushed back on his promise, saying, “Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, but Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon.”
The proposal is among the first notable policies offered by Harris since ascending to the top of the Democratic ticket last month. Speaking to reporters in Arizona earlier Saturday, Harris said she plans to roll out her economic policy platform next week, noting that it will be focused on “what we need to do to bring down costs and also strengthen the economy.”
