Kamala Harris takes a tip from Trump — no taxes on tips

Vice President Kamala Harris echoed the sentiments of former President Donald Trump about supporting service workers and eliminating taxes on tips, prompting the Republican nominee to call her a copycat.

In a campaign speech Saturday in Nevada, Ms. Harris said it’s her “promise” to continue “to fight for working families, including to raise the minimum wage and eliminate taxes on tips for service and hospitality workers.”

Mr. Trump was quick to defend the policy idea that he originally introduced in June at a Las Vegas rally.

“Kamala Harris, whose ’Honeymoon’ period is ENDING… just copied my NO TAXES ON TIPS Policy,” Mr. Trump posted Saturday on Truth Social. “The difference is, she won’t do it, she just wants it for Political Purposes! This was a TRUMP idea — She has no ideas, she can only steal from me.”

The Culinary Workers Union local in Las Vegas was supportive of Ms. Harris’ speech and promised to deliver the state for her and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

“Vice-President Kamala Harris acknowledged the hard working men and women of the hospitality industry and committed tonight in Las Vegas to raise the minimum wage across the country and fight to end taxes on tips once elected as the next President of the United States of America,” union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge said in a statement.

“As the largest organization of working women in Nevada, the chance to elect the first woman president of the USA is both energizing and historic and we are ready to make history together,” Mr. Pappageorge said. “The path to victory runs through Nevada and the Culinary Union, and we will deliver Nevada for President Kamala Harris and Vice-President Tim Walz.”

Ms. Harris made the announcement at a good spot: Las Vegas’ economy relies heavily on tourism through hotel stays and restaurant bookings.

Still, neither she nor Mr. Trump could deliver a no-taxed tips guarantee without the help of Congress.

Rep. Thomas Massie, Kentucky Republican, celebrated the support of no-taxed tips with a post on X.

“And just like that, both major party Presidential candidates support my Tax Free Tips Act of 2024! Thank you [former Texas Rep.] @RonPaul for originally introducing this bill,” Mr. Massie posted.

The Harris campaign said after the speech that, as president, Ms. Harris would draft a proposal with Congress that would include income limits and other stipulations. The proposal would be pushed with another one that would increase the federal minimum wage.

Rep. Jim Banks, Indiana Republican, called out Ms. Harris for passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, saying she is a “total fraud.”

“As V.P., Kamala was the deciding vote on the ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ that gave the IRS $80 billion of your tax dollars to make sure they tax every tip workers earn! Kamala Harris is a total fraud!” Mr. Banks, a Senate candidate, posted Sunday on X.

The post included a screenshot of a post from Ms. Harris in 2022 that said: “As Vice President, I was proud to cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the Inflation Reduction Act. Today, we’re celebrating this historic investment in climate action.”

Nevada was the last stop of the five-state campaign blitz in battleground states. Last week was the first for the country to see Ms. Harris and Mr. Walz together as the top of the Democratic ticket. Ms. Harris officially became the party nominee last week, ahead of the Democratic National Convention.