Two of the most politically divisive measures on California’s Nov. 3 ballot, Proposition 40 would impose a one-time 5% tax on the net worth of California billionaires, while Proposition 39 would require Californians to present government-issued identification when voting in person or provide the last four digits of a designated government-issued ID number on their mail-in ballot envelopes.
asserted
Proposition → impose → envelopes
Artist Sandy Weiner unapologetically supports both.
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Weiner → support → both
“Let them have it.
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them → let → it
They deserve to be taxed,” Weiner said of the billionaire tax.
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Weiner → deserve → tax
“I do feel they’re not paying their fair share.”
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they → feel → share
He said the money should go toward public services like “health, education, welfare.”
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money → say → welfare
Weiner is not at all concerned about a billionaire exodus.
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Weiner → concern → exodus
“I don’t give a crap,” he said.
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he → give → crap
“Let them leave.”
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them → let → ?
Weiner also considers voter ID requirements common sense.
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requirements → consider → ?
“I always show ID anyway,” he said.
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he → show → ID
“What’s the problem?”
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problem → ’ → ?
Nikki Paige, a creative director, agrees.
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Paige → agree → ?
“I think there should be more than a 5% tax on California billionaires.
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I → think → billionaires
Do you know how many dollars $1 billion is?
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billion → know → ?
” she said, adding that the percentage should increase based on how many billions the billionaire possesses.
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billionaire → say → billions
Page also said voter ID would help keep elections accurate.
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ID → say → elections
“To me, it makes sense because it keeps elections safe.
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it → make → elections
But I mean, then there also needs to be easy access to acquiring an ID.”
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I → mean → ID
Patricia Greenberg, a wellness educator, is also voting in favor of both propositions.
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Greenberg → vote → propositions
“I think that anybody who makes that amount of money has a responsibility, both morally and civilly, to give back to the community,” she said, adding the money should be spent on social services, especially healthcare.
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money → think → services
Greenberg said she’s not concerned about billionaires leaving the state.
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billionaires → say → state
“I think most people aren’t just going to pick up and leave over a bill.”
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people → think → bill
Greenberg also said she’s “in favor of” voter ID and never votes along party lines.
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she → say → lines
“I think that’s a valid request to make sure people are on the up and up when they’re voting, absolutely.”
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they → think → up
California Post Opinion Editor Joel Pollak says many Democrats believe some form of ID should be required when voting.
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form → say → ID
But “once Democratic voters learn that Republicans really want voter ID to pass, they tend to oppose it,” he said.
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he → learn → it
Supporters of the billionaire tax say it could raise tens of billions of dollars, with most of the revenue earmarked for healthcare.
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most → say → healthcare
Supporters say the measure would help offset federal cuts to Medi-Cal, but critics warn the measure could drive billionaires and businesses out of California, ultimately shrinking the state’s tax base.
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measure → say → base
Supporters of voter ID argue the measure would help prevent voter fraud and restore public confidence in elections.
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measure → argue → elections
Opponents say voter fraud is already rare and warn that the new requirements could prevent many eligible voters from casting ballots.
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requirements → say → ballots
The Aporia
