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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), the outspoken congresswoman from New York City’s 14th district, has publicly declared her opposition to the “No Tax on Tips” proposal, sparking debate across social and political circles. The announcement, made during an Instagram Live session on Tuesday evening, March 4, 2025, has drawn both criticism and curiosity for its unconventional reasoning.
Ocasio-Cortez, a former bartender known for her progressive stance on economic justice, argued that eliminating taxes on tips could lead to unintended consequences for workers across industries. “We could very easily enter a world where no one’s employer is actually paying their wages, and we’re all just tipping each other and essentially GoFundMe-ing the entire economy,” she said during the livestream. She warned that such a policy might create a “slippery slope” where all jobs—ranging from doctors and teachers to mechanics—could become reliant on tips rather than stable wages, undermining fair labor standards.
Ocasio-Cortez, a former bartender known for her progressive stance on economic justice, argued that eliminating taxes on tips could lead to unintended consequences for workers across industries. “We could very easily enter a world where no one’s employer is actually paying their wages, and we’re all just tipping each other and essentially GoFundMe-ing the entire economy,” she said during the livestream. She warned that such a policy might create a “slippery slope” where all jobs—ranging from doctors and teachers to mechanics—could become reliant on tips rather than stable wages, undermining fair labor standards.
