California Gov. Gavin Newsom apparently felt sick — literally — after he found out that one of the most influential tech figures was quitting the state.
Back in December, at a treehouse party north of San Francisco, the co-founder of Google, Sergey Brin, confronted the Democratic governor, according to a recentreport by Bloomberg.
Brin, one of the world’s wealthiest men, told Newsom he was leaving the state. He mentioned a proposed tax on billionaires in California, which would hithis $260 billion net worthhard.
Newsom was reportedly “cold and hungry” when Brin and his girlfriend spoke with him at the Christmas event held by crypto figure Chris Larsen.
That conversation has apparently been lingering on Newsom’s mind for months, Bloomberg reported, as he complained about a “lingering cold” he caught from the couple.
The governor declined comment to Bloomberg on the conversation.
Since then, the proposed tax has ignited battle cries from Silicon Valley’s wealthy. The 5% tax on billionaires, proposed by labor union SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, would move funding to healthcare and education programs threatened by federal funding cuts, according to proponents.
The proposal has yet to qualifyfor the November ballot, but some individuals, especially Brin, have decided to take action.
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The billionaire acted on his warning to Newsom, leaving the state andbuying a lakeside mansionin Nevada.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
