Kalanick moved to Texas ahead of California's billionaire tax

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorUber cofounder Travis Kalanick says he moved to Texas on December eighteenth, before California's billionaire tax would have counted him.

2. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorJoining us is Fitzgerald Mbeki-Soto, a lobbyist in Austin. Fitzgerald, you represent the people who'd pay this tax and the people who'd collect it. How?

3. FM

   Fitzgerald Mbeki-SotoCarefully. For the record, I've never worked for the billionaires. For the record, they're wonderful clients.

4. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSo which is it?

5. FM

   Fitzgerald Mbeki-SotoBoth. I flip this nameplate depending on who's in the room. Today it says Texas on one side and California on the other.

6. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorLet me ask you about December eighteenth. Kalanick told the TBPN show he doesn't know what's so specific about that date.

7. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorDoes that sound right to you?

8. FM

   Fitzgerald Mbeki-SotoIt's completely random. For the record, nobody picks a date. And for the record, I've sold that date to eleven clients.

9. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorEleven.

10. FM

    Fitzgerald Mbeki-SotoEleven who are not Mr. Kalanick, obviously. His is a coincidence. A coincidence I'd happily invoice.

11. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe tax is a one-time five percent, and it applies to people whose primary residence was California on January first.

12. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorKalanick's estimated bill was one hundred eighty million dollars. Is that the number that made it feel urgent?

13. FM

    Fitzgerald Mbeki-SotoNo, the urgency was spiritual. For the record, it was entirely financial.

14. FM

    Fitzgerald Mbeki-SotoHe'd had the Lake Austin house for five years, so it was already furnished.

15. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe Stanford economists say about five hundred forty billion dollars has already left. In press terms, that's a very well attended farewell.

16. FM

    Fitzgerald Mbeki-SotoFor the record, supporters say the tax raises a hundred billion. The Stanford people say thirty. I've been paid to believe each of those.

17. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorKalanick also said he gets a bit of FOMO about people going to Florida. Which side of your nameplate is that?

18. FM

    Fitzgerald Mbeki-SotoThe Florida side. I'm opening a third office, so I can have that one too.

19. 

    Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorVerdict: two sides, three offices, zero straight answers. Mr. Mbeki-Soto, you're billing us for this interview, aren't you?

20. FM

    Fitzgerald Mbeki-SotoOnly if you tax me.