Ted Dabrowski, a gubernatorial candidate for Illinois, addressed the issue of taxation on tipped workers during a visit to Mayberry Junction Restaurant in Manteno. He criticized Illinois Democrats for continuing to tax tipped workers while Governor J.B. Pritzker subsidizes the Chinese firm Gotion.
“Most states in the nation are going along with Pres. Trump’s no tax on tips,” said Dabrowski. “But Gov. Pritzker and the Democrats are going to continue to tax the tips of Illinois’ bartenders, ride share drivers and waiters – including the good people at Mayberry Junction. Meanwhile, Pritzker is happy to grant $500 million in subsidies to Gotion, the Chinese EV battery maker in Manteno. That’s the Pritzker hypocrisy. Breaks for communist companies. No breaks for ordinary Illinoisans. We can do better.”
At Mayberry Junction, Dabrowski contrasted the situation of local waiters and bartenders with that of a multinational electric vehicle (EV) battery maker. According to Dabrowski, President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” ensures no tax on tips for workers across much of the country. However, he said that Governor Pritzker and Illinois Democrats plan to maintain taxes on tips for servers, drivers, and hospitality workers in Illinois. Dabrowski argued that this decision, along with subsidies for Gotion, indicates a preference for foreign corporations over local residents.
The federal policy regarding no-tax-on-tips is part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which introduced a significant deduction for qualified tips. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance allows eligible workers in traditionally tipped occupations to deduct up to a set cap in cash tips from their federal taxable income. Analysts highlight that this deduction is particularly beneficial for servers, bartenders, rideshare drivers, and other tip-dependent workers. Dabrowski pointed out this reform as an example of Trump-backed policy aimed at supporting service job workers.
Governor Pritzker’s administration has supported Gotion’s EV battery plant in Manteno with substantial incentives. Capitol News Illinois reports that state and local governments have approved over $500 million in tax credits and other incentives for the approximately $2 billion project. This initiative is expected to create about 2,600 jobs related to lithium-ion battery assembly for vehicles and energy storage. State officials describe it as one of Illinois’ largest manufacturing investments in decades under the REV Illinois program. Critics argue that such subsidies benefit a China-based company while state tax policies continue to burden local families and small businesses.
Dabrowski is a conservative policy analyst and Republican gubernatorial candidate who previously led Wirepoints, an Illinois-based research organization focused on state taxes, pensions, outmigration, and economic performance. Before Wirepoints, he served as vice president of policy at the Illinois Policy Institute and worked extensively in international banking. His campaign advocates reducing the overall tax burden in Illinois, challenging corporate cronyism, supporting law enforcement, and aligning state policies with working families’ interests.
