News

Progressive lawmakers in California are pushing for an ambitious wealth tax on the ultra-rich, but moderate Democrats have chafed at the idea. 

Assembly Bill 310, dubbed The California Tax on Extreme Wealth, would impose an annual 1% tax on net worth over $50 million, and a 1.5% tax on net worth over $1 billion. It would also require a constitutional amendment to increase the state’s current wealth tax cap. 

[...]

Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D–Laguna Beach) is one of several moderate Democrats who say the proposal is unworkable. 

Newport Beach isn’t alone in its fight against rising seas, lawmakers are also paying more attention to the coast’s vulnerability to sea level rise.

On April 15, two coastal protection bills authored by Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach) were passed unanimously by the Assembly’s Committee on Natural Resources. There are a slew of other bills under consideration in the Legislature with various proposals for addressing sea levels.

Excerpted from the Orange County Register

By Susan Christian Goulding

Hundreds of people gathered under the tall trees at Huntington Beach’s Central Park on Sunday, April 18, to show unity against racism and hatred.

Excerpted from the Los Angeles Times

By Don Thompson

California lawmakers on Thursday advanced what they called common sense legislation requiring two state agencies to share information aimed at helping stop billions of dollars in pandemic-related unemployment fraud.

The measure that cleared its first committee would require the beleaguered Employment Development Department to crosscheck unemployment applications with inmate records to identify fraudulent claims.

Excerpted from CalMatters

By Cottie Petrie-Norris, Tom Daly, Tim Grayson, Sharon Quirk-Silva, James Ramos, Carlos Villapudua and Blanca Rubio, Special to CalMatters

Feeling overtaxed and frustrated with the cost of doing business in California, some of the state’s wealthiest residents abruptly moved out of state in recent months.

Excerpted from The Times of San Diego

By Chris Jennewein

Funding for SB 1 is included in a $5.5 billion bond measure that includes $970 million for coastal protection and restoration. That funding is intended to address sea level rise, which includes better local and regional planning and project investment. Some $100 million per year would be allocated for this effort.

Excerpted from The Los Angeles Times 

By Patrick McGreevey 

Excerpted from OC Register 

By Teri Sforza

Excerpted from The Daily Pilot

By Matt Szabo

Excerpted from The Newport Beach Independent

Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris has hired Alexander Kim as her new District Director. In this role, Alexander will serve as a community liaison based out of the Assemblywoman’s Irvine office for the cities of Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Laguna Woods and Laguna Beach.