California Union Offers Newsom 2% Billionaire Tax as June 25 Ballot Deadline Nears
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 19
California Union Offers Newsom 2% Billionaire Tax as June 25 Ballot Deadline Nears
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 19
Summary
SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West asked Gov. Gavin Newsom to back a 2% one-time tax on billionaire wealth, cutting its November ballot proposal from 5% days before a June 25 deadline.
The open letter is the first public sign the union is willing to compromise after months of arguing the tax was needed to offset federal health-care funding cuts signed by President Trump last year.
Newsom's office said the lower rate did not change his opposition, calling the state-only measure flawed and warning it would hurt schools, clinics, public safety and California's tech-driven economy.
The union has already spent millions gathering enough signatures for the initiative, leaving negotiations with Newsom as a last effort to reshape or win support for the measure before the ballot is finalized.