Las Vegas Sun: Rep. Susie Lee: One Big Beautiful Bill is unfair, unpopular — and it’s soon coming to Las Vegas

Just before Independence Day, I rushed back to Washington to vote against the One Big Beautiful Bill as Republicans rammed it through Congress in the middle of the night. It is one of the least popular pieces of legislation in modern American history, giving massive, permanent tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans and temporary crumbs for working families in Southern Nevada.

This month, the Ways and Means Committee Republicans brought a show to town to try to trick Nevadans into thinking the bill is a good deal for them. Don’t be fooled. I did not participate in this charade. As they say, “you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.” This bill is a bad deal for Nevada, especially for hard-working families.

Republicans in Congress forced through a partisan tax scam built on a foundation of misleading claims and temporary promises such as “no tax on tips,” “no tax on overtime” and “no tax on Social Security,” while giving permanent, and much larger, tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans.

To pay for these tax breaks, more than 114,500 Nevadans and 17 million Americans will lose health care coverage and even more will see their insurance premiums rise; Nevadans’ energy prices will increase by 12%; and construction jobs in Nevada and across the country will be lost. Additionally, 265,000 Nevada families will see their SNAP benefits cut or lost entirely, meaning thousands in our state will go hungry. And, to add insult to injury, we will leave our children holding the bag, as this bill adds an additional $4.4 trillion to our national debt. The cherry on top is that this bill was pushed through in such a shrouded manner that it included a tax provision that will take a sledgehammer to our gaming economy, seemingly to the surprise of many who supported the bill.

There is a lot wrong with the One Big Beautiful Bill, but the most egregious aspect is how unevenly the benefits are distributed. In Nevada specifically, two thirds of the law’s benefits will go to the top 20% of income earners — those earning more than $140,800 a year — according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

To their credit, Republicans are stellar at marketing and spinning their half-true and misleading promises to cover for their billionaire tax breaks. For example, Nevadans have heard a lot of claims from Republicans that they have made “no tax on tips” law where Democrats have failed.

It’s a powerful but incredibly misleading claim. Here’s what the law actually means for Nevada’s tipped workers:

• You can only deduct up to $25,000 in tips, and if you make more than $150,000 a year, your tipped income will start to be taxed again. Yet, if you earn $5 million, your tax breaks are not capped.

• Did I mention that “no tax on tips” expires in 2028? Their “no tax on Social Security” and “no tax on overtime” also expire in 2028. Yet, tax breaks for millionaires never expire.

• They made these proposals temporary so they could make tax breaks for the wealthy permanent, all while refusing to let us vote on the bill that would permanently end taxes on tips.

To be clear, I support no tax on tips. Earlier this year, I called on Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to bring Nevada Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s “No Tax on Tips Act” — which unanimously passed the Senate — to the House floor for a vote. Instead, Republican leaders held it hostage so they could provide cover for themselves as they voted to pass the largest transfer of wealth in American history.

Right now, Nevadans are feeling the worst of the administration’s policies. Inflation is climbing, international tourists are avoiding Las Vegas, hotel occupancy is seeing steep declines, and Nevadans who buy their health insurance through the Silver State Exchange can expect to pay 75% more for it next year.

I’ve been named one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and have helped pass legislation that lowered prescription drug costs, made historic investments in infrastructure jobs, and brought down housing and energy costs in Southern Nevada. Whether someone is a Republican or a Democrat, I’m willing to work with them on legislation that will lower costs for working families in our community.

But I call balls and strikes as I see them, regardless of party — I will not support bills that hurt Southern Nevadans. Period. That’s why I won’t let House Republicans enjoy their Las Vegas vacation and come unchallenged as they try to sell their unfair and unpopular law that steals from working Americans to give tax breaks to the rich.

Susie Lee, a Democrat, represents Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District.