House Republicans on Friday waded carefully into a public relations push aimed at selling their party’s sweeping domestic policy bill to skeptical voters, traveling to Las Vegas for a hearing highlighting tax cuts that polls show are among its few popular provisions.
Gathering at the Las Vegas warehouse of an electronic sign company, Republicans on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee highlighted President Trump’s new policies to eliminate taxes on some tip income and overtime pay, arguing that the legislation would help ordinary Americans and generate economic growth.
The new tax cuts will provide “more money in people’s pockets, better jobs in their communities and a strong and prosperous America,” said Representative Jason Smith of Missouri, the Republican chairman of the committee, as the letters “OT” glowed in fire-engine red on a sign across the way, a nod to the newly favorable tax treatment of overtime wages.
Yet even as Republicans called attention to the selling points of the bill, which they backed almost unanimously this month, the event pointed to the challenges of pitching legislation that public surveys show is deeply unpopular. It came at the start of a five-week-long summer House recess that could be a prime opportunity for the G.O.P. to promote its marquee legislative achievement. But Republicans are also keenly aware of the political risks of holding freewheeling gatherings with voters that could devolve into gripe sessions about the law.
The hearing was orchestrated instead to accentuate the positive points of the measure, with a slate of witnesses invited by Republicans — including a server at an Italian restaurant and a food delivery driver — there to testify to how they might benefit.
Patrick Wrona, the server, said he had “severe appreciation” for the bill’s change to how tipped workers are taxed.
Near the start of the session, Republicans conceded that the legislation they just weeks ago labored to pass had problems that needed to be addressed.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Smith said he would push to address a provision of the bill that has drawn backlash: an effective tax increase on gamblers that could disproportionately hurt the gaming industry in Nevada, a key battleground state.
“For those of you concerned about this change, I can tell you that members on both sides of the aisle have heard you,” Mr. Smith, who supported the bill, said. “And I know that many members on both sides of the aisle are open to working to address it.”
Representative Dina Titus, Democrat of Nevada, said she welcomed such a change. But she put the onus on Republicans to address a problem that they had created.
“Let’s be sure we know who’s responsible,” she said. “And let’s work together to try to fix it”
The exchange reflected the challenge that Republicans may face as they return to their districts and try to win public support for the bill, which slashes deeply into Medicaid and food assistance programs to help finance the cost of its tax cuts.
Throughout a protracted and messy legislative process, many Republicans drew attention to provisions in the bill they disliked, including the cuts to social safety net programs, which Democrats have attacked mercilessly. Now Republicans, who voted mostly in lock step for the bill at Mr. Trump’s urging, are in the awkward position of defending a measure whose shortcomings they have acknowledged — and, in some cases, introduced legislation to undo.
The law extends tax cuts enacted in 2017 that had been scheduled to expire at the end of the year and added new provisions Mr. Trump promised during this campaign. It also cuts Medicaid by nearly $1 trillion over a decade, and reduces SNAP food assistance.
Democrats were eager to draw attention to what they argued were flaws in the legislation, which will allow workers to deduct their taxes on tips and overtime pay starting in 2025 through 2028. Many of the bill’s tax breaks for businesses are permanent.
The tipping deduction also is capped at $25,000, and some workers may not make enough money to take full advantage of the new policy. Many already make less than the amount they can deduct by default.
“This bill doesn’t go far enough on no tax on tips,” said Representative Steven Horsford of Nevada, who said the tipping deduction should be permanent.
After the hearing, Mr. Smith dismissed that argument.
“People will argue that it’s temporary, that it’s for four years,” he said in an interview. “But you know what? Having it for four years is better than to never have it.”
The Ways and Means Committee also is set to hold a similar hearing on Saturday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., which aides said would focus on the bill’s effects on small businesses and farmers.
Democrats have criticized both hearings as being staged to give Americans a false impression that the law has widespread support. On Friday, all but one of the witnesses was invited by Republicans. And other than congressional staffers and the news media, only about three dozen people appeared to be in attendance.
Michael Gold covers Congress for The Times, with a focus on immigration policy and congressional oversight.
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