Billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer is facing backlash after a viral clip showed him saying his own tax bill is “not the answer” to inequality.
In the clip, private equity baron Steyer squabbles with Republican Steve Hilton — who said onstage that Steyer pays the lowest tax rate of “anyone on this stage.”“My wife and I have said that we will give the bulk of our money while we’re alive,” Steyer stammered at theWednesday night debate.“But me paying more taxes is not the answer,” he continued.
The regrettable sound bite, from theWednesday night California governor debatein San Francisco, has already resulted in a mortifying attack ad from a big-money committee aiming to defeat Steyer, a private equity baron running as a progressive Democrat.
The anti-Tom Steyer IE committee is going up with a new ad using his unfortunate sound bite from the last debate.https://t.co/SWEQT3YUDRpic.twitter.com/eTXjUxLo0L
“If one person puts more money into the government doesn’t solve it, we need structural change,” Steyer added in the exchange.
Special interests “are scared of me,” Steyer claimed.
An anti-Steyer committee called California is Not for Sale rapidly blasted outan adaccusing the billionaire of investing in properties and casinos tied to President Donald Trump — while claiming he’ll take down the president — along with the coal and private prison industries, while stashing earnings offshore.
“Despite these misleading attempts, Tom’s position has been consistent on taxing billionaires like himself, and he is the only candidate in this race calling on billionaires to pay more,” said Steyer spokesperson Danni Wang.
Steyer, who’s worth an estimated $2.4 billion, has come out in favor of a highly controversial tax proposal that would slap a 5% levy on the total wealth of California billionaires.
The self-styled progressive billionaire has called for higher taxes on corporations to fix “the system” and said he wants to abolish ICE.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
