Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) is taking a novel approach to selling the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” in his district: Using his official office funds on a slick digital video ad campaign to promote key tax pieces of the legislation.
One 30-second ad launching Friday, first previewed to The Hill, features waitress Erika Pirtle from Whisky River Bar & Grill in Ankeny, Iowa, talking about the benefits of the megalaw that exempts tips from being taxed.
“Waiting tables isn’t easy. We work hard and most of what we take home comes from tips. The One Big Beautiful Bill finally gives workers like me some real relief,” Pirtle says in the ad. “For the first time, I’m not getting taxed on tips I earn. That’s huge.”
Pirtle thanks Nunn for making sure service workers were included in the bill, adding: “At the end of a long shift, it means a lot to know that Washington finally understands how hard we work. This is pro-worker, plain and simple — and it’s about time.”
Nunn is spending $12,000 on the digital ad buy targeting his district, his office told The Hill.
That comes from his official taxpayer-funded office funds, not campaign funds — despite the video’s production giving it more of a campaign ad feel.
Lawmakers can use funds allocated to their office to distribute mass communications to their constituents on matters related to their representational duties that are not campaign related and do not include a call to action — and requires approval from within the House. The practice, called franked communications, is also used to distribute mail and newsletters to constituents, and is sometimes criticized for resembling campaign ads.
In recent years, members of the House have used franked communications on radio, television and digital ads.
Now, Nunn is using that tool to promote the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” — with the ad coming as House Republicans face some criticism for not doing enough to sell President Trump’s signature legislation.
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon said on his “War Room” podcast this week that he has not “seen a massive effort to sell the big beautiful bill and actually what it stands for.”
Earlier in the week, Nunn’s office debuted an ad with Iowan Sarah Curry praising the tax cuts, the Des Moines Register reported. Curry appeared in the ad in her personal capacity but works for the pro-tax cut organization, Iowans for Tax Relief.
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