WASHINGTON, D.C. (KOLO) — Sen. Jacky Rosen blamed President Donald Trump for rising costs and declining tourism in Nevada during a press call Tuesday, one day before Trump’s scheduled visit to Las Vegas to promote his tax agenda.
Rosen said gas prices are at their highest level in years, grocery costs keep climbing, housing continues to be out of reach for Nevada families, and health care bills are skyrocketing. She said Trump is doing nothing except making things worse.
The White House has promoted Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts Act as delivering real relief to American families. The administration says the average refund this filing season is over $3,400, 11% higher than last year.
Gaming tax, tourism decline
The Democratic senator said Nevada’s tourism industry, the backbone of the state’s economy, is struggling for the first time since the pandemic because of Trump’s tariffs, immigration policies and fights with Canada.
Rosen said Trump and Republicans’ “one big beautiful bill” has a hidden provision that is disastrous for Nevada’s gaming industry, creating an unfair tax burden for players who lose money. She said players who come to Nevada to gamble and lose will have to pay taxes on the money they lost.
Not counting the pandemic, 2025 saw the biggest decline in visitation to Las Vegas in over 50 years, according to Rosen. She said that means less revenue for hotels, fewer shifts for hospitality workers and fewer tips.
Trump’s tax plan includes no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on Social Security. The White House says more than six million Americans have claimed the no tax on tips provision, with an average deduction of over $7,100.
“If Trump intends to tout policies like no tax on tips, hospitality workers in Nevada are left wondering, what difference does it make that I’m not getting taxed on tips when I’m actually getting less in tips than before?” Rosen said.
She said she passed her bipartisan no tax on tips bill by unanimous consent in the Senate last year.
Rosen: Trump owns economy after 18 months
When asked by KOLO 8 News anchor Noah Bond how much of what Nevadans are feeling is Biden-era inflation versus Trump’s policies, Rosen said Trump has been president for nearly 18 months and it is his economy and his policies that have made prices go up.
She pointed to tariffs on food, coffee, fruits and vegetables, saying consumers pay the cost when they go to the grocery store.
The administration points to record U.S. oil and gas production as evidence Trump’s energy policies are offsetting higher costs from tariffs. The White House says U.S. natural gas production hit a record 118.5 billion cubic feet per day, and oil production reached an all-time high of 23.6 million barrels per day.
Gas prices spike amid Iran conflict
Rosen said Trump’s war with Iran has caused gas prices to spike in recent weeks. She said gas was $5.40 per gallon in her neighborhood on Sunday, with diesel fuel at $6.50.
“Every single thing that’s on a truck uses diesel fuel,” Rosen said. “Let’s say, oh, maybe a month ago it was $4 and now it’s $6.50. Who do you think pays that extra $2.50 a gallon? Not the trucking company, not the food company, the consumer.”
She also cited tariffs on building supplies as driving up housing costs. Rosen said she has introduced bills to eliminate tariffs on groceries and building supplies.
The White House says Trump’s energy dominance agenda has positioned the U.S. as the world’s top energy producer and exporter, with 167 crude tankers declaring U.S. destinations as of Monday to supply nations cut off from Middle Eastern crude.
Veterans urge diplomacy over war
Rosen criticized Trump for not coming to Congress to authorize military action against Iran and said he has not justified the conflict to Congress or the American people.
She said Nevada has a lot of active duty military getting deployed and more than 200,000 veterans. Rosen said veterans are telling her to do everything possible in diplomacy before sending anyone to war.
“People lose their lives. People are injured for the rest of their life. And there are always injuries that they carry that you don’t see,” Rosen said.
She criticized Trump and Secretary of State for spending a Saturday night watching boxing in Florida instead of negotiating a solution to the war.
Tax refunds vs. rising costs
When asked about higher tax refunds, Rosen said refunds might be higher, but if everything people pay for is higher, they do not see any of it.
“Most people don’t pay their bills on what the Dow Jones average is. They pay their bills on what comes in paycheck every two weeks, every month,” Rosen said.
The White House says Trump’s tax cuts are delivering bigger refunds, stronger families, and a more prosperous America. The administration says over 25 million Americans have benefited from no tax on overtime, with an average deduction of over $3,100, and over 30 million seniors have claimed the no tax on Social Security deduction, with an average deduction of over $7,500.
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