Hochul’s refusal to end tax on tips: Letters to the Editor — Dec. 30, 2025
Tax policy debates center on growth versus redistribution as Americans weigh economic freedom.
The coverage treats “no tax on tips” as a cute talking point, as if it is mostly about optics or restaurant politics. But the letters capture something real: people are tired of being told their second job, weekend shift, or late-night hustle is just another revenue stream for Albany. What gets missed is the basic unfairness of taxing income that is already volatile, often reported imperfectly, and easily distorted by enforcement pressure.
New Republican Times Editorial Board
Post readers take Gov. Hochul to task for refusing to extend President Trump's "no tax on tips" — and also weigh in on claims that “It’s a Wonderful Life” has racist, bigoted messages.
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New Republican Times Editorial Board
The coverage treats “no tax on tips” as a cute talking point, as if it is mostly about optics or restaurant politics. But the letters capture something real: people are tired of being told their second job, weekend shift, or late-night hustle is just another revenue stream for Albany.
What gets missed is the basic unfairness of taxing income that is already volatile, often reported imperfectly, and easily distorted by enforcement pressure. A tip is not a guaranteed wage, and treating it like one invites more audits, more paperwork, and more suspicion aimed at working people. That corrodes public trust and expands the administrative state for little gain.
If New York wants to defend fairness for service workers, it should stop taxing gratitude as if it were a luxury. The principle is simple: tax policy should reward work, not punish it with ever-tighter rules.
Commentary written with AI assistance by the New Republican Times Editorial Board.