Taxes
California
You’re Next: How Average Families Could Pay the Price from a CA Wealth Tax
This week, Tim is joined by PRI senior fellow in business and economics Dr. Wayne Winegarden to discuss his latest research on how a California wealth tax would jeopardize venture capital investment in the state and set middle class Californians up for inevitable future tax increases.
Pacific Research Institute
October 9, 2026
Business & Economics
You’re Next: New PRI Study Finds Wealth Taxes May Start with Billionaires, But Average Families Could Pay the Price
SACRAMENTO – A new Pacific Research Institute study released today finds that average Californians could ultimately bear significant economic costs from a wealth tax – through fewer job opportunities, weaker income growth and increased fiscal pressure that could eventually reach their own tax bills. The study, “You’re Next: How a ...
Wayne Winegarden
October 9, 2026
California
Making income tax surcharge permanent with Prop. 3 hurts state
Would you move to Florida for $100,000 a year? Because of California’s steeply progressive income tax rates, that’s the question many are asking. For an increasing number of taxpayers, the answer has become yes — which is why Proposition 3 is so consequential. In 2012, voters approved Proposition 30, which ...
Wayne Winegarden
September 29, 2026
Blog
California’s New Software Tax Is Another Step Toward More Digital Taxes
Senate Bill 122 is projected to raise roughly $2 billion annual tax increase on the software businesses use to operate, and its costs will spread far beyond company software bills. Since software as a service supports nearly every part of the modern economy, businesses will have to absorb those higher ...
Anthony Velasquez
August 25, 2026
Blog
California cities turn to tax hikes to deal with overspending
Two years ago, 125 local tax measures appeared on ballots. Ninety, says the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, passed. A number of cities now have local sales taxes that exceed 10%. Several cities in “conservative” Orange County are likewise asking voters to approve various local tax increases. We won’t know until the deadline in August how ...
Kerry Jackson
July 21, 2026
Blog
Despite Exorbitant Fees, LA28 Ticket Buying Experience Was Gold Medal Worthy
Recently, I felt like Charlie Bucket searching for the golden ticket in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I “won” the lottery for the first draw opportunity to buy 2028 LA Olympic tickets. Much of what I read about the process online were complaints, primarily about pricing. A limited allotment ...
Tim Anaya
April 20, 2026
Business & Economics
With Tax Day around the corner, how are Trump’s tax policies impacting you?
April 15th is just around the corner. While we settle up our 2025 taxes, it is a good time to take stock of all the fiscal changes that have occurred. While some have been good, others were bad, and still others were simply ugly. The Good Starting with the good, ...
Wayne H Winegarden
April 6, 2026
Blog
California Can’t Address Affordability Crisis Without Lowering Tax Burden
“(We need) someone who will bring prices down,” Rep. Eric Swalwell says. “Californians can’t afford to live in California,” says billionaire Tom Steyer. They’re both right, but they should look in the mirror for a culprit. Big government policies –including several they are promoting in their platforms – are driving ...
Tim Anaya
March 23, 2026
Blog
Another Tax That Backfired
Passed in 2022 by nearly 58% of Angeleno voters, Measure ULA initially imposes an additional 4% tax on the sales of any homes or commercial properties, not just mansions, valued at more than $5.3 million. The rate on sales of properties sold at more than $10.6 million rises to 5.5%. The dollars coming in are dedicated ...
Kerry Jackson
March 10, 2026
Blog
Death by a Thousand Cuts: Andrew Gruel on the Cost of Regulations for California Restaurants
The challenge is not a single overwhelming regulation, it is accumulation. California layers rule upon rule, each one defensible on its own. Over time, those requirements reshape how restaurants hire, price, expand (or not), and compete. What appears manageable on paper becomes costly in practice. Restaurants are high-transaction, high-labor businesses. ...
Anthony Velasquez
March 4, 2026
You’re Next: How Average Families Could Pay the Price from a CA Wealth Tax
This week, Tim is joined by PRI senior fellow in business and economics Dr. Wayne Winegarden to discuss his latest research on how a California wealth tax would jeopardize venture capital investment in the state and set middle class Californians up for inevitable future tax increases.
You’re Next: New PRI Study Finds Wealth Taxes May Start with Billionaires, But Average Families Could Pay the Price
SACRAMENTO – A new Pacific Research Institute study released today finds that average Californians could ultimately bear significant economic costs from a wealth tax – through fewer job opportunities, weaker income growth and increased fiscal pressure that could eventually reach their own tax bills. The study, “You’re Next: How a ...
Making income tax surcharge permanent with Prop. 3 hurts state
Would you move to Florida for $100,000 a year? Because of California’s steeply progressive income tax rates, that’s the question many are asking. For an increasing number of taxpayers, the answer has become yes — which is why Proposition 3 is so consequential. In 2012, voters approved Proposition 30, which ...
California’s New Software Tax Is Another Step Toward More Digital Taxes
Senate Bill 122 is projected to raise roughly $2 billion annual tax increase on the software businesses use to operate, and its costs will spread far beyond company software bills. Since software as a service supports nearly every part of the modern economy, businesses will have to absorb those higher ...
California cities turn to tax hikes to deal with overspending
Two years ago, 125 local tax measures appeared on ballots. Ninety, says the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, passed. A number of cities now have local sales taxes that exceed 10%. Several cities in “conservative” Orange County are likewise asking voters to approve various local tax increases. We won’t know until the deadline in August how ...
Despite Exorbitant Fees, LA28 Ticket Buying Experience Was Gold Medal Worthy
Recently, I felt like Charlie Bucket searching for the golden ticket in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I “won” the lottery for the first draw opportunity to buy 2028 LA Olympic tickets. Much of what I read about the process online were complaints, primarily about pricing. A limited allotment ...
With Tax Day around the corner, how are Trump’s tax policies impacting you?
April 15th is just around the corner. While we settle up our 2025 taxes, it is a good time to take stock of all the fiscal changes that have occurred. While some have been good, others were bad, and still others were simply ugly. The Good Starting with the good, ...
California Can’t Address Affordability Crisis Without Lowering Tax Burden
“(We need) someone who will bring prices down,” Rep. Eric Swalwell says. “Californians can’t afford to live in California,” says billionaire Tom Steyer. They’re both right, but they should look in the mirror for a culprit. Big government policies –including several they are promoting in their platforms – are driving ...
Another Tax That Backfired
Passed in 2022 by nearly 58% of Angeleno voters, Measure ULA initially imposes an additional 4% tax on the sales of any homes or commercial properties, not just mansions, valued at more than $5.3 million. The rate on sales of properties sold at more than $10.6 million rises to 5.5%. The dollars coming in are dedicated ...
Death by a Thousand Cuts: Andrew Gruel on the Cost of Regulations for California Restaurants
The challenge is not a single overwhelming regulation, it is accumulation. California layers rule upon rule, each one defensible on its own. Over time, those requirements reshape how restaurants hire, price, expand (or not), and compete. What appears manageable on paper becomes costly in practice. Restaurants are high-transaction, high-labor businesses. ...