Influential political organization representing more than 3 million California Democrats endorses measure that will make billionaires pay their fair share to keep local hospitals open and healthcare affordable for millions

Sacramento, Calif. – Trump’s “Big, Ugly Bill” slashed funding for healthcare in California to pay for more billionaire tax breaks, eliminating healthcare coverage for up to 3.4 million Californians and doubling health insurance premiums for millions more. Clinics across California are closing, hospitals are laying off workers, and life-saving services are being cut. Working families in California are already seeing their healthcare costs skyrocket, and it’s only getting worse.

Now, more than 3 million California Young Democrats members are entering the battle to save the state from these dire consequences – by endorsing Prop 40, the California Billionaire Tax, to make billionaires finally pay their fair share.

“California’s young people deserve a future where everyone can afford to live, work, raise a family, and access quality healthcare. Prop 40 is about making sure that billionaires, who have benefited the most from our state’s economy, contribute their fair share to protect the life-saving medical care that millions of Californians rely on every day,” said California Young Democrats Maiya De La Rosa, President, California Young Democrats.  “We are proud to support this effort to invest in California’s communities and build a stronger, more equitable future for the next generation.”

The California Young Democrats is the official statewide organization representing millions of young Democrats across California. Through its network of local chapters and members, the group works to engage young people in the political process, develop the next generation of Democratic leaders, and advance progressive policies at the local, state, and national levels. Prop 40 is consistent with the group’s work advocating for issues that matter to young Californians, including economic opportunity, affordable healthcare, climate action, workers’ rights, and equity.

As Trump’s massive federal healthcare cuts begin to rip healthcare away from millions of Californians, the California Young Democrats are joining a growing list of organizations and lawmakers supporting Prop 40, which makes more than 200 California billionaires pay a modest, one-time tax to keep local hospitals and ERs open and healthcare affordable for millions of Californians.

Billionaires already pay much lower tax rates than what working families pay out of every paycheck. They insist on paying less and sticking the middle class with the bill. Prop 40 will enact a tax paid ONLY by Californians worth more than $1 billion, a small group of people who together hold $2 trillion in wealth – most of which will never be taxed due to loopholes that favor the ultra-wealthy. 

By voting YES on Prop 40, California voters can raise about $100 billion to replace the healthcare funding Trump and his billionaire donors took from working people to hoard even more wealth. The funds will go to life-saving medical care for seniors, veterans, and families. It will allow millions of Californians to keep their health insurance and not see their premiums skyrocket. It will also help prevent teacher layoffs in our public schools and keep children fed through food assistance programs.

“The message here is clear: the future of the California Democratic Party stands firmly behind Prop 40,” said Debru Carthan, Vice President of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, one of the lead sponsors of the California Billionaire Tax Act. “We are proud to stand side by side with the California Young Democrats in making sure working people and their right to a healthy future is put before the greed of a few hundred billionaires.”

Voters consistently support the California Billionaire Tax by large, double-digit margins. Prop 40 qualified for the ballot after supporters submitted more than 1.6 million signatures from Californians across the state — nearly twice the number required to qualify — making it one of the strongest citizen-led ballot qualification efforts in California history.

Prop 40 is endorsed by hundreds of elected officials, labor unions, and community-based organizations including U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Ro Khanna, Teamsters California, AFSCME California, SEIU-UHW, Committee of Interns and Residents / SEIU, UNITE HERE Local 11, UNITE HERE Local 30, AFT Local 1521, Disability Voices United, Our Revolution California, Oxfam America, Color of Change, and many, many more. 

More than 400 hospitals statewide have already laid off more than 3,400 healthcare workers, and a second wave of layoffs is expected as more funding cuts from Trump’s “Big, Ugly Bill” hit healthcare providers. Statewide, projections show the cuts could result in the loss of up to 145,000 healthcare jobs, impacting hospitals, clinics, and home care providers. California has already been grappling with a longstanding shortage of healthcare workers, leaving hospitals and clinics stretched thin even before Trump’s cuts.

Without revenue from Prop 40, these federal healthcare cuts are expected to put an estimated 83 California hospitals and clinics at risk of closure. Cuts and closures have already started, impacting communities from Los Angeles to Oakland to Glenn County.  

About Prop 40, the California Billionaire Tax Act

Trump’s “Big, Ugly Bill” slashed funding for healthcare in California to pay for more billionaire tax breaks. These cuts eliminate healthcare coverage for up to 3.4 million Californians and double health insurance premiums for millions more. Prop 40, the California Billionaire Tax Act, will make billionaires finally pay their fair share in taxes to keep local hospitals and ERs open and healthcare affordable for millions of Californians.

Vote YES on Prop 40 to save lives, tax billionaires. 

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Paid for by Yes on 40 – Billionaire Tax Now, Sponsored by Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West.   Committee’s Top Funder  Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West

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