Proposition 39: How We Tax Multistate Businesses




KQED's Forum show

Summary: Proposition 39 seeks to close a loophole that measure supporters say gives unfair tax breaks to out-of-state companies. Supporters of the measure say taxing out-of-state companies based on their California sales would bring in $1billion annually and help level the playing field for California companies. About half of the tax money, $550 million a year, would go to energy-efficiency programs and green jobs. But critics say the tax increase will discourage job creation. And, they say, allocating money specifically for green programs is another example of ballot-box budgeting that ties the hands of lawmakers.