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Democratic candidate for governor Xavier Becerra reiterated his opposition Friday to a proposed wealth tax on billionaires and a proposition that would require voters produce identification to cast ballots.
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In a statement Friday, Becerra announced he would support four other propositions, including Proposition 3, a “millionaire’s tax” that would make permanent an existing income tax on high-earning Californians to fund education.
Becerra steered clear of taking stakes on a number of other controversial ballot measures, including Proposition 45. Backed by the California Chamber of Commerce, that measure would overhaul the California Environmental Quality Act and is opposed by many environmental groups. The Chamber endorsed Becerra last month, while environmental groups largely backed Becerra’s top rival in the primary, Tom Steyer.
Becerra was the top vote getter in the primary and led Republican Steve Hilton by 25 percentage points in a Public Policy Institute of California poll released in early July.
Beyond the Prop. 3 high-earners tax, Becerra also supports:
- Prop. 1 — Authorizes a $11.25 billion bond to fund affordable housing aimed at low- and moderate-income Californians and veterans.
- Prop. 2 — Increases the amount lawmakers and the governor can set aside in the state’s rainy day fund to 20%, up from its current 10% levels.
- Prop. 37 — Creates a $25 million mortgage loan program targeted at Californians who make less than 200% of the area median income.
The former state attorney general said he would oppose Prop. 39, the voter ID initiative that he called “Donald Trump’s voter interference agenda, repackaged for a California ballot.” Backers of the measure, including Hilton, say it is a commonsense election integrity measure with bipartisan support.
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In a statement, Becerra said “much of this ballot gives us something to build with — housing that people can afford, permanent funding for schools and health care, and a stronger rainy day fund, all without raising taxes on working Californians.”
Becerra didn’t give a reason for his opposition to Prop. 40, the proposed one-time 5% wealth tax on California billionaires; he told POLITICO in January it was “sketchy policy” without elaborating on why.
Hilton also opposes the billionaire tax, which he’s called a “pathetic, ridiculous insider swamp game” that will endanger the state’s economy. The former Fox News pundit has not yet taken a stand on some of the other measures on the ballot.
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