October 22 | Volume 40 No. 32

Westsidestory Newspaper

Former Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez Backs Proposition 40 as Billionaire Tax Divides California Labor

Former Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez

California Federation of Labor Unions Presi dent Lorena Gonzalez says Proposition (Prop) 40 would provide temporary funding to pro tect Medi-Cal, hospitals and health care jobs from federal cuts. Opponents warn the tax could weaken Cali fornia's finances. Prop 40, which is on the Nov. 3 ballot, would impose a one-time 5% tax on billionaires who were California residents on Jan. 1, 2026. Real estate and retirement accounts generally would be excluded. The measure directs 90% of the revenue to health care. The rest would go to education, food assistance and administration. The mon ey would be exempt from constitutional rules governing school funding and the state's spend ing limit. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) estimates the tax would raise tens of billions of dollars over several years. It says

By Joe W. Bowers, Jr. | California Black Media changes in billionaire behavior, including leaving California, could reduce state income tax collections by less than $1 billion a year. Gonzalez, who represented the 80th District in the State Assembly from 2013 to 2022, said Prop 40 is needed because the federal taxand-spending law signed by President Donald Trump reduced projected federal Medicaid spending while extending tax cuts. Medicaid is known as Medi-Cal in California. Gonzalez said Medi-Cal is especially important in Black and Latino communities because it covers many children and families. Some union members also rely on the program. “If we need to have a bridge to fund Medi-Cal while this president is in office, it makes sense to tax the billionaires,” Gonzalez told Califor nia Black Media (CBM).

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Sacramento: Golden State Legislative Reunion Brings Together Lawmakers and Officials Who Served Between 1964 and 1995

Decades of political history, legislative bat tles and bipartisan relationships came to life in Sacramento on October 9 as some of Califor nia’s most influential former lawmakers gath ered for the Golden State Legislative Reunion. In addition to former and current legislators, the event, held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in the state capital, also brought together former governors, constitutional officers and other po litical figures. Hosted by former Republican legislative leader Jim Brulte and former Democratic As sembly Speaker Willie Brown, the reunion honored lawmakers elected to the California Senate and Assembly between 1964 and 1995. Brown, who served in the Assembly from 1964 to 1995 and held the speakership for nearly 15 years, described the reunion as a “unique occasion” to recognize particular con tributions of lawmakers from both parties. “We want to think seriously about the achievement of this body, members of the Assembly, some who went on to join the Senate, and some who went off to other places,” Brown said. “We do want to thank the sponsors for making it possible for all of us to enjoy and renew relationships.” A towering figure in California politics, Brown rose to become the Democratic whip in 1969 and later chaired influential commit tees, including Ways and Means and Revenue and Taxation. He became the first Black Cali fornian to serve as Assembly speaker in De cember 1980 and remains the longest-serving speaker in California history.

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