GOP Congresswoman Hits Back After Critics Come At Her For Tip They Say Was Too Low

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa) is defending herself amid social media backlash, because the Republican lawmaker left what some customers are calling a “ridiculous” tip at a restaurant — in an try to have fun the GOP’s “no tax on suggestions” deduction handed earlier this 12 months.

“Made a pit cease in Iowa County for lunch at Solar Down Bar and Grill,” Miller-Meeks wrote Monday on X, previously Twitter. “I acquired to have fun No Tax on Suggestions with our great server, she’s thrilled about this provision and excited to maintain extra of what she earns!”

An accompanying picture of her receipt confirmed Miller-Meeks had a $7 order of corn nuggets and a $10 Philly cheesesteak sandwich, which got here to a complete of $18.19, after including native gross sales tax. The picture showed Miller-Meeks left $21 and small change on her desk.

The pictured receipt notably confirmed {that a} 20% tip on the full invoice would quantity to $3.40.

“You’d assume the server would a minimum of get $5 because you’re utilizing her as a political prop on a money tip she wouldn’t have reported,” one user replied on X, with another person commenting: “I’ve by no means seen somebody brag so onerous about being such an affordable asshole.”

The congresswoman, whose publish acquired practically 10 million views and landed greater than 2,000 feedback, has since responded to the reactions with a press release from a spokesperson — which slammed Democrats and famous that she paid acceptable gratuity.

“The Congresswoman left a 20% tip, and in contrast to Democrats, she didn’t vote to extend taxes on hardworking Iowans,” Anthony Fakhoury told CBS 2 Iowa in a press release Tuesday. “‘No Tax on Suggestions’ means more cash within the pockets of servers, not the IRS.”

Trump hailed the measure as a triumph fulfilling his marketing campaign vow of ending taxes on suggestions. In actuality, it merely supplies a tax deduction on as much as $25,000 of tip earnings — and solely applies to federal earnings tax — which means staff nonetheless should pay Social Safety and Medicare taxes on suggestions.

Social media customers in the end weren’t involved with these particulars Monday, with many aghast that Miller-Meeks tried to champion her get together by tipping “only” $3 on her lunch.