President Biden would “absolutely” sign legislation to eliminate payroll taxes if it reached his desk, the White House said Monday, adopting a policy first proposed by former President Trump and echoed by Vice President Trump. President Harris.
“Look, this is something the president supports,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a briefing. “He supports eliminating tip taxes for service and hospitality workers while raising the minimum wage and preventing the wealthy from gaming the system.”
Jean-Pierre argued that such a proposal would align with Biden’s efforts to support American workers and build the economy “from the bottom up and from the inside out.”
Biden has not previously spoken publicly about the concept. Trump first raised the idea in June at a rally in Nevada, which is a swing state and home to thousands of service industry workers.
Republican lawmakers quickly took Trump’s cue, introducing a bill aimed at eliminating taxes on tips. Critics of the proposal warned that it could further increase the national debt and could be taken advantage of by wealthy individuals.
Harris, who replaced Biden as the Democratic nominee after he opted not to seek re-election, said at a rally in Las Vegas on Saturday night that she would support ending tip taxes, mirroring Trump’s proposal.
“It’s my promise to everyone here, when I’m president, we will continue to fight for working families, including to raise the minimum wage and eliminate tip taxes for service and hospitality workers,” Harris said Saturday night.
A Harris campaign official said the proposal it would require congressional action and should include an income limit.
Trump and his campaign criticized Harris for copying their idea.
“The difference is that she won’t do it, she just wants it for political purposes!” Trump posted on Truth Social. “This was TRUMP’s idea – she has no ideas, she can only steal from me. Remember, Kamala proposed the BIGGEST TAX INCREASE IN HISTORY – That’s not going to happen.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
