PERRY, Ga. — Georgia Republicans are backing former President Donald Trump's "No Tax on Tips" policy — and they say business owners do, too.
Trump's campaign hosted a news conference Saturday ahead of the 8th District Republican Party's annual fish fry at the Perry fairgrounds to discuss the policy. Georgia State Senate President Pro Tempore John Kennedy took the podium first, highlighting recent efforts to reduce the effects of inflation on Georgia families.
Kennedy, who represents Macon, says Georgians often ask him what legislators are doing to help.
"I hear from folks that are struggling, not only at the gas pump but also at the grocery line," Kennedy said.
The state senator says Trump's policy eliminating taxes on tips will help Georgians.
"Even though they're taxes, we still believe that it belongs to the people and not the government," he said.
Sam Gay, a caterer based in Moultrie, is handling the food for Saturday afternoon's fish fry. He says the policy would help service workers nationwide.
"Most of the people that work in the food service industry are some of the lowest average income employees in the United States," Gay said. "They work extremely hard, and their tips being taxed by the government is just an additional burden on their disposable income."
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for a food service worker in May 2023 was between $14.29 and $15.50 per hour. The median pay for all other occupations averaged together was $23.11 per hour.
Gay elaborated on how it would help his employees and his business as a whole.
"President Trump's initiative to reduce the tax burdens on small businesses like my own would reduce my requirement to track those tips and to tax those tips for the government," he said.
Congressman Austin Scott spoke next, echoing Kennedy's statements. Scott represents the 8th District, an area stretching from Macon to the state's southern border, in Congress. He told a story about a recent trip to Waffle House with his children.
"I gave the $5 tip to the lady who's done a great job for us, serving us. I didn't give that money to the government," he said. "I gave it to the lady who got up early that morning and came to work in the service industry."
Vice President Kamala Harris has also embraced a similar policy, pledging to end federal taxes on tips for service and hospitality workers. While both presidential candidates support the policy, whoever is elected must convince Congress, as lawmakers have the final say.
Harris' campaign is also active in Central Georgia this weekend. The Harris-Walz team and the Georgia Democratic Party made an appearance Saturday morning at the Men's Health and Wealth Conference in Bibb County.
Saturday afternoon features a noon luncheon in Washington County and a 2 p.m. barbecue in Wilkinson County.