Sen. Bernie Sanders didn’t maintain a lot again in exhibiting his assist for California’s proposed ‘Billionaire Tax’ poll at an occasion within the Golden State.
“Beginning proper right here in California these billionaires are going to be taught we’re nonetheless dwelling in a democratic society the place the individuals have the ability,” Sanders mentioned to the group Wednesday. “By no means earlier than in American historical past have we seen the form of greed, vanity and ethical turpitude.”
The impartial senator from Vermont took the stage in Los Angeles at The Wiltern, an Artwork Deco theater, addressing a crowd of 1,500 to rally assist for the “California Billionaire Tax Act,” a 2026 poll initiative designed to boost an estimated $100 billion over 5 years to offset looming federal healthcare cuts.
“Make billionaires pay their share” was the theme of the night as unions kicked off their marketing campaign. Sanders mentioned it was time for “our nation to lastly confront a grotesque stage of revenue and wealth inequality.”
“We’re taking a look at a second in historical past the place by no means earlier than have so few individuals had a lot wealth and a lot energy.”
Obtain The California Put up App, comply with us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
California Put up Information: Fb, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Put up Sports activities Fb, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Put up Opinion
California Put up Newsletters: Enroll right here!
California Put up App: Obtain right here!
Dwelling supply: Enroll right here!
Web page Six Hollywood: Enroll right here!
Yellow and blue indicators studying “Assist Public Schooling,” “Meals Safety Is Healthcare,” and “Billionaire Tax Now: Vote Sure 11/3/26” flooded the auditorium.
Healthcare employees within the viewers wore their white coats, whereas others donned white T-shirts that includes a blue California map and the slogan “Tax the Billionaires.”
The proposal would impose a one-time 5% tax on billionaires, Sanders known as it an “emergency” step to assist well being care employees within the state.
Governor Newsom is in opposition of the tax, and has warned that such a tax may create a short-term windfall however result in long-term income losses if high-net-worth residents relocate.
Sanders additionally known as out Google Founder Sergey Brin and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg throughout his deal with, and talked about Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Tesla corporations for not paying a share truthful in taxes.
At the same time as he fights to tax billionaires, Sanders himself racked up greater than $550,000 in 2025 on non-public jet journey throughout his “Combating Oligarchy” tour with lefty Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez, in response to 2026 FEC filings. The luxurious flights allowed the duo to hit dozens of rallies throughout the nation, however critics say the jets conflict with Sanders’ populist message — one which was on full show within the Golden State.
The Sanders occasion was headlined by Rage In opposition to the Machine guitarist and songwriter Tom Morello, who fired up the group with a fiery pro-union message.
“My title is Tom Morello, and I’m a union man,” he mentioned, noting that his mom was a union instructor.
Current surveys present roughly 60% of seemingly voters in California assist a wealth tax on billionaires, at the same time as a majority acknowledge it may immediate some companies or entrepreneurs to depart the state.
The flight of the extremely‑rich is already underway: at the least six California billionaires — together with Google’s Larry Web page and Meta’s Zuckerberg — are chopping ties with California. Larry Ellison has additionally quietly snagged up Nevada estates as tech titans flee excessive taxes.
