Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy Backs Tax On Billionaires In CaliforniaSen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) is backing a proposed tax on billionaires in California to help offset federal health care cuts that President Donald Trump signed into law last year, joining Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the effort as they push Democrats to embrace more populist messaging ahead of the November midterm elections.Murphy will be in Los Angeles on Saturday to speak with health care workers who are supporting the proposal and gathering signatures to ensure it gets on the ballot in November."The Trump administration and congressional Republicans caused a health care cataclysm when they gutted Medicaid and the ACA so they could give a new, giant tax cut to billionaires and corporations," Murphy said in a statement first shared with HuffPost. "I’m proud to stand with health care workers who know just how devastating these cuts have been and are fighting to protect their patients and communities by passing the California Billionaire Tax.” The union-backed initiative calls for a one-time 5 percent tax on the net worth of all California residents with more than $1 billion, which is estimated to apply to about 200 people.Proponents have argued that it is needed to stave off devastating health care cuts that take effect beginning next year, as well as closures of hospitals and emergency rooms that rely on federal funding.Not all Democrats are on board, though.California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, has said he opposes the tax because it could harm the state's world-leading tech industry. Some Democratic candidates running to replace Newsom as governor agree with him.Murphy's call for a wealth tax in California comes amid a widening intraparty debate over tax policy. Other Democratic senators are pitching massive tax cuts instead as a way to win over voters and blunt Trump's populist appeal, drawing criticism from some progressives.