California budget plan gets mixed reviews as new costs loom

California politicians recently approved a huge $356 billion spending plan that’s now waiting for the governor’s final okay. To pay for it, they’re adding three new tax ideas that could hit wallets soon. One plan extends a tax on health care providers that normally brings in money for Medi-Cal, but since that’s ending, lawmakers want to shift the cost to private insurance instead, which could make monthly premiums rise. Another change adds sales tax to software like Slack and Microsoft 365 starting next year. That move has business groups worried because they say extra costs could slow down tech growth. Meanwhile, a third plan would limit how much big companies can save through tax credits, which might make it harder for them to invest in new projects.Assemblymember David Tangipa summed it up bluntly: if you earn a paycheck or run a small business, expect higher taxes. If you buy private health insurance, your bills could climb too. Critics argue the timing stinks, since California already struggles with unexpected budget drops and might not handle another surprise well. The big question is whether these tax hikes will actually help or just push more costs onto regular people. California already has a reputation for high living expenses, so adding more fees could make life even tougher for residents.