All articles tagged with #california ballot
California Gov. Gavin Newsom advocates a national billionaire tax and a public equity fund to shield workers from AI-driven disruption, while opposing California’s wealth tax ballot measure as flawed and potentially funding federal health‑care cuts; the move positions him as a national tax reform voice amid a likely White House run.
SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West president Dave Regan condemns Gov. Gavin Newsom in a rare interview for opposing California's proposed one-time 5% tax on fortunes above $1 billion, arguing Newsom panders to the billionaire class as he contemplates a 2028 presidential bid. Regan warns that such deference could fuel Trumpism if Democrats cater to the wealthy. The measure has qualified for the November ballot but could be withdrawn; Newsom has rejected the plan as poorly designed and floated a 2% legislative option that supporters rejected. Billionaire donors, including Sergey Brin, are funding efforts to defeat the measure, while supporters say the tax would fund healthcare and offset federal cuts.
A union-backed measure would impose a one-time 5% tax on California residents with net worth above $1 billion to raise about $100 billion for healthcare (90%), education, and food assistance; it has qualified for the November ballot despite opposition from Gov. Gavin Newsom and billionaire opponents like Sergey Brin, while attracting support from Bernie Sanders and others, with legal challenges and questions about potential capital flight looming as voters weigh the proposal.
Labor union SEIU United Healthcare Workers West says it collected more than 1.5 million signatures to qualify a one-time 5% wealth tax on Californians with net worth over $1.1 billion for healthcare funding; enough valid signatures (875,000) must be verified to place the measure on the November ballot, a move that deepens Democratic divisions while facing both support and opposition.