Support the “Fair and Responsible Tax Plan for California’s Wealthy” Ballot Measure

Submitted by Fred Glass, East Bay DSA

Signatories: Maureen Katz, Nickan Fayyazi, Luke Thibault, Joe Berry, Helena Worthen, Eric Wolfe, Ally Glass-Katz, Michael Lighty, Bonnie Lockhart, Ted Franklin

Whereas California DSA State Council has passed a resolution endorsing the United Healthcare Workers’ ballot measure effort, the 2026 Billionaire Tax Act, to levy a temporary wealth tax on billionaires, in order to offset the anticipated massive funding shortfall for MediCal due to federal cuts, and

Whereas the state Attorney General on December 26, 2025 issued title and summary to the measure, and its backers can now begin to circulate petitions to registered voters, and

Whereas the Billionaire Tax Act is not the only progressive tax effort aiming for the ballot, with The California Children’s Education and Health Care Protection Act of 2026, supported by a coalition of education unions, already collecting signatures since early November 2025, intending to make permanent the temporary income tax imposed on the top 2% of income earners in the state in 2016 with Proposition 55, raising between $5 billion and $12 billion each year, and Whereas if the Education measure fails, the state’s public education system will face deep cuts, and

Whereas the Education measure is likely to reach the signature threshold to qualify for the ballot sooner than the UHW Billionaire Tax, and

Whereas California DSA supports the general principle of progressive taxation, commonly known as “tax the rich” measures, and

Whereas the success of each campaign will depend on the electorate’s understanding of growing economic inequality, which undergirds the need for progressive taxes of all types, and

Whereas California DSA is uniquely qualified to make the argument in favor of both ballot measures on the basis of a clear class analysis message, and Whereas California DSA, with members in UHW, CFT, CTA and CSEA, could help bring the two campaigns in closer relationship, necessary to ensure their messaging and public presentations enhance, rather than conflict with, each other’s chances to win,

Therefore be it resolved that California DSA endorses The California Children’s Education and Health Care Protection Act of 2026, and

Be it further resolved that California DSA will combine its efforts on behalf of both measures in signature gathering, canvassing and other forms of advocacy as appropriate in one united progressive tax campaign, the “Fair and Responsible Tax Plan for California’s Wealthy”.