Sergey Brin-Backed Campaign Launches $90 Million Blitz Against California 5% Wealth Tax
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 25
Sergey Brin-Backed Campaign Launches $90 Million Blitz Against California 5% Wealth Tax
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 25
Summary
$90 million in planned spending hit California’s airwaves Tuesday as a campaign backed by Google co-founder Sergey Brin rolled out its first ad against Proposition 40.
The November ballot measure would impose a one-time 5% tax on California residents worth at least $1 billion, targeting total wealth including stocks, trusts and personal possessions.
Supporters of the tax — backed by a health care workers union — have reserved just $8,000 in ads so far, leaving opponents with an airtime advantage of more than 11,000 to 1.
If voters approve Proposition 40, California would enact the nation’s first tax on a person’s total wealth, setting up a high-stakes test of taxing billionaires by ballot initiative.