Key Takeaways (Table of Contents)
- Why California’s Proposed Billionaire Tax Will Drive More Wealth Out of the State
- How AB 1421 (Mileage Tax) Impacts Everyday Californians, Not Just the Wealthy
- Why Corporations and Employers Are Leaving California at an Alarming Rate
- The Growing Crisis Facing California Small Businesses
- How Overregulation and Environmental Policies Are Fueling Economic Decline
- Ché Ahn’s Vision for Restoring California’s Economy and Economic Freedom
Why Is California’s Proposed Billionaire Tax Driving Wealth and Jobs Out of the State?
Ché Ahn:
The proposed billionaire tax is a perfect example of Sacramento shooting itself in the foot. These are the people producing wealth, funding innovation, and paying a significant portion of California’s taxes. When you threaten them with a retroactive, one-time 5% tax, they don’t wait around—they leave.
We’ve already seen major corporations move out of California: Tesla, SpaceX, Chevron, and many others. But what people don’t talk about enough is the thousands of small and mid-sized businesses that have quietly left. During COVID alone, 18,000 small businesses went bankrupt in California. Many of them simply couldn’t afford to reopen here due to excessive regulation and taxes.
When producers leave, tax revenue disappears. That’s why California now faces an $18 billion deficit. Instead of fixing the problem, Sacramento keeps trying to squeeze more money out of fewer people—driving even more away.
How Does AB 1421 (Mileage Tax) Hurt Everyday Californians and Economic Freedom?
Ché Ahn:
AB 1421 proves this is no longer about “taxing the rich.” This mileage tax hits everyone—whether you drive a gas vehicle or an electric one. The moment you turn on your car, you’re being taxed.
Many Californians were told to switch to electric vehicles because it would save money—no gas tax, lower operating costs. Now the state is pulling a bait-and-switch by taxing people based on miles driven. That’s not just bad policy—it’s deceptive.
This hurts working families the most. People already commute long distances because housing near job centers is unaffordable. Residents driving from places like Lancaster, Santa Clarita, Bakersfield, or the Inland Empire are now being punished just for going to work. That’s not environmental stewardship—that’s economic cruelty.
If I’m governor, AB 1421 will be vetoed immediately.
Why Are Corporations Leaving California—and What Does That Mean for Jobs?
Ché Ahn:
When corporations leave California, good-paying jobs leave with them. And it’s accelerating. Companies like Chevron relocating to Houston and Walmart closing multiple California locations isn’t just about profits—it’s about whether doing business here makes sense at all.
Each major closure represents thousands of lost jobs and millions in lost tax revenue. In many small towns, Walmart is the only pharmacy and grocery option. When those stores close, entire communities suffer.
California prides itself on being the fourth-largest economy in the world—but that status is slipping. We’ve already dropped to fifth. If we don’t change course, the decline will continue.
What Challenges Are California Small Businesses Facing Right Now?
Ché Ahn:
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, yet California treats them like an afterthought. During COVID, big corporations stayed open while small businesses were forced to shut down. One out of four restaurants didn’t survive.
I personally know business owners who did everything right—plexiglass, temperature checks, social distancing—and were still shut down. Many lost everything.
Now add rising minimum wages, regulatory burdens, energy costs, and taxes, and it becomes nearly impossible to survive. These policies don’t punish corporations—they crush families who poured their life savings into a business.
How Have Environmental Regulations and CEQA Impacted California’s Economy?
Ché Ahn:
California’s environmental policies have been hijacked by extremism. CEQA has become a weapon to stop production rather than protect people. We import 60% of our petroleum while sitting on enough resources to supply ourselves—driving gas prices through the roof.
We destroyed our timber industry with overregulation, even though responsible logging actually reduces wildfire risk. Now our forests are powder kegs, and Californians pay the price with devastating fires.
Climate change is real, but it’s not an excuse to cripple the economy. These policies are ideological, not practical—and they hurt the poor and middle class the most.
What Is Ché Ahn’s Plan to Restore California’s Economy and Governance?
Ché Ahn:
When I’m governor, I will deregulate aggressively. I will put a pause on CEQA abuse and dismantle unelected bureaucracies that block economic growth. I’ll fight for policies rooted in fairness, free markets, and constitutional principles.
History shows us that socialism and Marxist economics fail—every single time. Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea—the evidence is overwhelming. California must reject these ideas and return to common sense.
I’m running because I care about people—their jobs, their families, their future. Economic freedom isn’t just about money; it’s about dignity, stability, and hope. California can thrive again, but only if we change direction now.