7,500 members strong, UNITE HERE Local 30 endorses commonsense measure that will save jobs and keep local emergency rooms open through one-time tax on billionaires
SAN DIEGO, CA – California’s billionaires pay much lower tax rates than what working families pay out of every paycheck. And soon, massive federal healthcare funding cuts will collapse key parts of the California healthcare system. Local hospitals and emergency rooms could shut their doors forever because billionaires insist on paying less than the rest of us.
Now, the 7,500-member hotel and food service workers union, UNITE HERE Local 30, one of San Diego’s largest and most effective unions, is entering the battle to save the state from these dire consequences — and to ensure billionaires pay their fair share.
“For working families in California, this isn’t an abstract budget debate. This will make the difference for whether their kids can see a doctor, whether their parents can get emergency care, and whether healthcare is still there when they need it most,” said UNITE HERE Local 30 President Brigette Browning. “The California billionaire tax asks a small number of ultra-wealthy individuals to contribute a fair share so the rest of us aren’t left paying more or going without care. It’s a common-sense step to stabilize our healthcare system and make sure working people aren’t pushed to the back of the line while billionaires get another tax break.”
As federal healthcare cuts from HR1 begin to rip healthcare away from millions of Californians, the 7,500-members of UNITE HERE Local 30 are joining a growing list of organizations and lawmakers supporting a one-time 5% emergency tax on the state’s roughly 200 billionaires as a direct response.
The commonsense measure is designed to ensure that billionaires pay their fair share to stabilize and protect the state’s vast healthcare infrastructure, including California hospitals, nursing homes, community health centers, and home care services. Without revenue from the California Billionaire Tax, federal healthcare cuts will force many hospitals and ERs to close.
Healthcare costs will increase and insurance premiums will skyrocket. All Californians will feel the effects of these cuts, but they will hit seniors, children, veterans, and people with disabilities especially hard.
“My family depends on having reliable healthcare close to home,” said Ninfa Insunza, room attendant and UNITE HERE Local 30 member. “This proposal keeps critical services open and prevents massive healthcare cuts from being dumped onto working families. That’s why I’m standing with my union and doing everything I can to help pass the billionaire tax and protect healthcare in our communities.”
Measures such as the Massachusetts Fair Share Amendment and Washington State’s capital gains tax have generated billions in new revenue for public services, and the number of high-income residents AND their cumulative wealth in both states have increased since the policies went into effect.
Tax experts have underscored that what makes the billionaire tax unique is how it’s designed to be fair and enforceable — so billionaires can’t avoid responsibility by moving their assets or claiming residency elsewhere.
Impact of federal healthcare cuts
- Dozens of hospitals and ERs will close; dozens more will be forced to cut back services and lay off healthcare workers. The patient care crisis will worsen as patients are forced to wait longer and drive further for medical care.
- Up to 3.4 million Californians could lose their healthcare coverage under Medicaid, including many seniors, children, veterans, and people with disabilities
- The state could lose about $30 billion in federal healthcare funding every year — destabilizing the health care system and driving up health care costs for everyone.
- Insurance premiums for Californians who purchase Affordable Care Act plans could rise as much as 97%, and an estimated 400,000 Californians could be priced out of healthcare altogether.
Impact of food assistance cuts
- Currently, 5.5 million Californians benefit from food aid. 3.5 million are senior citizens and children.
- At least 754,000 people could lose their entire monthly benefit, with over 3 million households facing reductions.
- The estimated funding loss is $2.5 to $4.5 billion annually.
- The SNAP/Cal-Fresh cuts, if not backfilled by other funding mechanisms, are expected to cost California approximately 400,000 jobs over the next nine years.
About the California Billionaire Tax Act
The California Billionaire Tax Act proposes a one-time emergency tax on the wealth of the state’s ultra-high-net-worth individuals to safeguard Medi-Cal, keep hospitals and emergency rooms open, expand food assistance, and support public education. The initiative is a direct response to federal healthcare cuts under HR1 that threaten healthcare access and economic stability for millions of Californians.
| Paid for by Save California Health Care and Public Education, Sponsored by Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West. Committee’s Top Funder Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West |
###