Key Takeaways:
- 1.2 million restaurant workers face losing Medicaid due to Republican cuts.
- 30-32% of workers may lose benefits from reduced hours.
- ‘No Tax on Tips’ helps only 1.17 million, leaving many without healthcare.
- Trump’s policy shift angers workers, highlighting a broken campaign promise.
Introduction: Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign centered on not taxing tips, a promise that resonated with voters, securing his narrow victory. However, reality reveals a starkly different scenario: Medicaid cuts are stripping health insurance from millions of restaurant workers, as detailed in a report by One Fair Wage.
The Report’s Findings: The report shows that 33% of tipped workers in fair wage states and 37% in subminimum wage states rely on Medicaid. Additionally, 32% in fair wage states and 34% in subminimum wage states lack health insurance. Analyzing work hours, 30-32% of these workers risk losing Medicaid due to reduced eligibility, affecting 850,000 workers. This brings the total affected to 1.22 million, or 45% of current Medicaid recipients in the industry.
The Proposed Legislation: The ‘No Tax on Tips’ bill aims to aid tipped workers but benefits only 1.17 million, fewer than those losing Medicaid. This policy contrast—tax breaks for some, healthcare loss for many—highlights a shift from campaign promises to harsh realities.
The Impact on Workers: Trump’s switch from tax relief to healthcare cuts leaves many workers frustrated and without essential benefits. This bait-and-switch underscores the administration’s divergence from its campaign pledges, fueling public discontent.
Conclusion and Call to Action: The loss of healthcare for over a million workers against minor tax breaks sparks outrage. Share your thoughts on how these policies affect restaurant workers and the broader implications for American healthcare.