Vinod Khosla Accuses Ro Khanna Of 'Commie' Tax, Predicts Permanent Damage To California's Tax Base

Core Viewpoint - Renowned venture capitalist Vinod Khosla has criticized Rep. Ro Khanna's proposed "billionaire tax," arguing it could lead to the exodus of wealthy individuals from California and harm the state's tax base permanently [1][2]. Group 1: Tax Proposal and Economic Impact - Khosla claims that Khanna's support for the tax has already resulted in the departure of half of California's top $2 trillion in wealth [2]. - The proposed tax would impose up to 5% on residents with a net worth exceeding $1 billion and a one-time $1 billion tax on those with at least $20 billion in assets as of January 1 [4]. - Concerns have been raised that the tax could create extreme uncertainty, potentially killing startups and discouraging new business launches in California [4][7]. Group 2: Reactions from Tech Leaders - Khosla's comments have sparked a debate among tech industry figures, with David Sacks questioning the political benefits of Khanna's support for asset seizures [5]. - Sam Bahreini criticized Khosla and others for their initial support of Khanna, urging them to take responsibility for the consequences of the proposed tax [6]. - High-profile figures like Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have already reduced their ties with California due to the tax proposal, raising further concerns about its impact on the state's economy [7].