Our most pressing issue today is the state of our economy. Our representatives in Washington have let spending get out of control. They have increased spending by 72% in the past 7 years. They have expanded government programs time after time, with no accountability to the people. All a government bureaucrat has to say is that their program is not working because of lack of funding, and our Congress throws more money at it. Their game of attaching earmarks (pork) to bills, giving funding to their special interests, and then borrowing the money from China to pay the bill, when our bank account runs short, has to end. They are bankrupting our children’s future and are weaken our dollar. A weak dollar causes prices of food, gas, gold and other commodities to skyrocket. You may have noticed lately, at the gas pump? Fiscal responsibility must be restored, and the Americans must be allowed the freedom to choose their own paths. As long as our politicians continue their addiction to reckless spending, they will only waste more and raise taxes on all Americans. The latest budget in front of Congress will increase the national debt another $400 billion over the next two years. It is completely irresponsible to mortgage our future. We must stop this spending!

Waiters, waitresses, and other service-sector employees have to pay taxes on the tips they earn. Currently the IRS makes an estimate of how much each service-sector worker will make in tips during the hours they work. The IRS then taxes them on that amount, even if the worker does not actually earn as much as was estimated!

The IRS has set up an estimated tax schedule for different work places. For example the IRS says that your estimated wages for where you work is $22 an hour. That is what you will be taxed on, no matter if you get a good or bad section, or what time of year it is. So if you work a 4 hour shift, the IRS assumes you made a minimum of $88. They tax you on $88. But what happens on a slow night or during the slow season here in Vegas. You only make $60 bucks, but are taxed on $88. Oh and you have to tip out $20. So you made only $40 net. But the IRS is going to assume that you made $88 no matter what, so you are basically paying double taxes on your labor for that day.

The reverse could happen as well, where you could make $200 in a shift. You would have an advantage that day. But can you really just estimate with people's livelihood. And how many really good nights do you have in the service industry vs. slow ones? I believe this is criminal!

The tips of many service-sector employees are a substantial portion of their income, many workers are students just trying to make a few extra dollars to get through school, and others are often parents balancing two jobs while trying to make enough to raise their family. Tax on tips amounts to nothing more than the federal government stealing money from these employees for working hard and doing their jobs. Tips are a gift for service well done, not a wage!

Last year, Ron Paul introduced H.R. 3664 in Congress to end this problem. The Tax Free Tips Act of 2007 will exempt tips from federal income and payroll taxes. Ending taxes on tips will give workers an immediate pay raise, letting them keep more money to put toward things like a house or car payment, their retirement, or education. I support this bill and would introduce similar legislation like this to support the service-sector employees of Clark County and the country.

The National Taxpayer Protection Pledge was started in 1986 as the first project of Americans for Tax Reform.

I, Carl Bunce, pledge to the taxpayers of the 3rd district of the State of Nevada and to the American People that I will:

ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses; and

TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.