After losing her bid for California governor despite pledging to leave politics, former Congresswoman Katie Porter has instead stepped up her campaign against the state’s proposed one-time billionaire tax.
In a sharply worded op-ed, Porter criticized Proposition 40, which would impose a one-time 5% tax on the wealth of every billionaire in California. Supporters argue the measure could help cushion the effects of health care cuts.
Porter did not soften her attack on what she called an “ass backwards” proposal, which California voters will consider in November.
“Proposition 40 is a prime example of a seemingly progressive-sounding policy solution that ultimately just perpetuates the status quo,” Porter said.
“It does nothing to reform our healthcare system and would send billions in tax dollars to private health insurance companies and corporations that dominate our healthcare system,” she claimed.
Porter described the initiative as a “band-aid” that would do little to address soaring health care costs driven by inflation. She also argued that the proposal offers no guarantee that its revenue would reach patients.
She pointed to opposition from the California Medical Association, the California Primary Care Association and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California.
Porter also repeated opponents’ warning that the tax could put California’s budget at risk if wealthy residents left the state, potentially dealing a serious blow to the broader economy.
“Trading recurring general fund revenue, which reliably pays for schools, public safety and healthcare year after year, for a one-time cash infusion is a bad deal for California’s future,” she said.
The Post contacted the Yes on Prop 40 campaign for a response to Porter’s criticisms.
EXPLORE MORE: Suspects Sought in Stabbing of Off-Duty NYPD Detective Are Undocumented Immigrants With Lengthy Criminal Records
Before September, Porter had said little publicly about her opposition to Proposition 40, and her earlier objections focused on somewhat different concerns. During a gubernatorial primary debate, she called the proposal “simply not good tax policy.”
Porter argued during the debate that California needs a continuing source of revenue, not a tax collected only once. She said the measure should go further by requiring “half billionaires” to pay more as well. She also maintained that directing too much of the money to health care would leave other state programs without needed funding.
Even as she attacks Proposition 40, Porter, who brands herself as a progressive, has continued to insist that “billionaires should pay their fair share.”
Her louder opposition comes just as Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed the Orange County progressive to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. The appointment still needs confirmation from the state Senate and would pay Porter $100 for each day she conducts official business.
Newsom has emerged as one of the most prominent Democratic opponents of Proposition 40. He reportedly worked behind the scenes to persuade left-leaning groups, including Planned Parenthood, to oppose the tax. Most conservatives already reject the measure.
Porter placed fifth in California’s crowded top-two gubernatorial primary in June, receiving 403,908 votes, or 4.4% of the total, according to state election returns. The result followed her distant third-place finish in the 2024 Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat ultimately won by Adam Schiff.
Questions about Porter’s temperament have followed her uneven political career.
In divorce filings from 2013, Porter’s former husband alleged that she once poured a bowl of steaming mashed potatoes over his head during an argument, burning his scalp. Porter disputed his broader description of their troubled marriage and made allegations of her own in court documents.
During the governor’s campaign, leaked footage from a taped interview showed Porter berating a staffer who entered the camera frame and ordering the aide to “get out of my f—ing shot.”
Porter later apologized for shouting at the employee, acknowledging that she “could have been better” during that incident and other tense encounters.