Rep. Gabriel Vasquez’s Stance on Tipped Worker Policies

Rep. Gabriel Vasquez, a Democrat from New Mexico, recently took a stance that appears contradictory in the eyes of his critics. He initially voted against a package that included President Donald Trump’s “no tax on tips” law. However, the following month, he advocated for a permanent implementation of the policy.

In August, Vasquez expressed support for tipped workers, stating, “Tipped workers deserve to take home more of their hard-earned pay.” His vote against Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which included the “no tax on tips” provision, was part of a larger Democratic opposition to the bill that became law on July 4.

“Defund the police Gabe Vasquez wants to raise taxes, rip away benefits from workers, and make families’ lives harder. New Mexicans want none of Vasquez’s radical agenda,” said Reilly Richardson, spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Vasquez opposed the bill due to other measures included in it, such as Medicaid reforms requiring an 80-hour work week for non-disabled adults starting in 2027. Vasquez’s spokesperson, Patricia Socarras Santiago, explained, “Vasquez would have happily voted for a permanent no-tax-on-tips policy that didn’t kick millions of hardworking families off Medicaid and food assistance and push our rural hospitals to the brink of closure.”

The campaign highlighted recent job reports, arguing that Trump’s policies didn’t address job stability in the hospitality sector effectively. “Tipped workers in fields like hospitality are losing their jobs, and inflation is outpacing any gain made by a temporary no-tax-on-tips policy,” they noted.

Vasquez isn’t currently advocating for an expansion of the existing law. Instead, he criticized it, saying, “The current sham version of ‘no tax on tips’ isn’t going to cut it.” He introduced a proposal earlier this year, the TIPS Act, which would eliminate subminimum wages for tipped workers who often earn a base salary of $2.13 per hour in places like New Mexico.

“Tax Day is no one’s favorite time of year, but I worry this filing season is going to be especially frustrating for a lot of folks. Many hardworking New Mexicans may be surprised when they file and realize they don’t qualify for the tax relief they were promised,” Vasquez stated.

Vasquez emphasized the need for real solutions over temporary policies that confuse taxpayers, stressing that he aims to help workers and retirees keep more earnings and benefits.

Vasquez, who won his party’s nomination unopposed, will face Republican Greg Cunningham, a former DEA officer, in the November general election.