California Businesses Take On Gavin Newsom Over Tax Hikes

 The Wall Street Journal (msn.com) 

Presumptuous Politics

 "A coalition of California companies is going to war with Gov. Gavin Newsom and his Democratic allies over taxes it says have grown out of control in the Golden State.

"The businesses have gathered enough signatures to put a measure on November’s ballot that would require two-thirds of voters to approve most local tax increases and roll back some recently enacted ones. If passed, it would be one of the most significant changes to the way California funds its government since 1978’s Proposition 13, a voter-approved law that severely limited property tax increases.

"Backers say it is necessary to stop continued tax hikes that are making it too expensive to operate in California and pushing companies to leave the state. Real estate businesses in Southern California are among the biggest funders, according to state campaign finance records, partly in response to a surcharge on luxury home sales that Los Angeles voters passed in 2022.

"Newsom, local officials and labor unions say the proposal would decimate funding for basic services such as trash collection and firefighting and would make budgeting decisions near-impossible.

"The companies spent some $16 million to gather signatures to put their proposal before voters and are gearing up for a fight political analysts say could draw tens of millions of dollars in advertising by both sides.

“ 'The business community is fed up, they want to start stepping up to make a positive change. And they recognize that if they don’t do it, nobody will,” said Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable, an advocacy group representing some of the state’s biggest businesses and leading the “yes” campaign." . . .

Newsom's Restaurant Pays $16 an Hour Despite Law Crippling Fast Food Chains with $20 Minimum Wage (msn.com)  "Hasn't California Gov. Gavin Newsom had enough problems with restaurants to exercise some caution around the issue of eateries?

"You may remember, back in the heyday of California's brutal COVID-19 lockdown regime -- where most indoor dining was shut down and patrons were forced, by law, to wear masks at almost all times and remain in small groups -- Newsom was photographed maskless and mingling at a large birthday party at a Michelin-starred restaurant called the French Laundry.

"These images should have ended Newsom's political career, but this is California, he's a Democrat and all can be forgiven if that's the case: . . ."