LAS VEGAS — House Republicans are launching their effort to sell the One Big Beautiful Bill to voters, working to change public opinion and win the messaging war during the 15 months before the midterm elections.
The Ways and Means Committee is meeting in Nevada, where “no tax on tips” turned into a central campaign promise for President Donald Trump. By holding the first field hearing on the law here, the committee is sending a clear message about the provisions the GOP should tout.
“We’re back and we’re at the birthplace of no tax on tips,” Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) said. “This is where the president got the idea from his waitress at the Trump Hotel.”
We sat down with Smith for a 30-minute interview here, and we’ll have much more news from that conversation for subscribers in the Sunday Vault. But first, here’s how Smith is thinking about the messaging war over the tax bill.
The sell. Smith pointed to no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, tax cuts for seniors, Trump savings accounts for kids, a bigger maximum child tax credit and expanded standard deduction as pieces that Republicans should focus on when selling the bill.
These are some of the more populist ideas that Trump pitched on the campaign trail. They’re also new, which means Americans will actually feel the difference when they go into effect.
It’s a boost that Smith is counting on. So far, the OBBB’s polling has been underwater. Democrats are messaging aggressively against the bill and hammering cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and clean energy. Smith pointed out the tax cuts he’s encouraging Republicans to tout poll well.
Here’s Smith:
“Americans won’t know what’s in it until they feel it for the most part, and so the polling that’s out right now, I don’t buy it. The American people whenever they experience the tax relief that they’re going to see when they file their taxes — the real tax relief they’re going to see — I think that November will be a much better day for House Republicans.”
Here’s news: Smith also told us the law’s tax hike on gamblers was a “bad decision” that he wants to reverse. The change allows gamblers to deduct 90% of their losses instead of 100%.
Smith said it’s “absolutely” possible it gets done by year-end and floated it as a potential piece of a broader bipartisan package.
The gambling change is an awkward one for Republicans selling the bill here, and it’s a point Nevada Democrats are sure to keep pressing. Smith voted for the change like almost every congressional Republican, but his strong endorsement of undoing it makes the effort much more viable.
