Kalanick's Texas Move: The Lobbyist Who Works Both Sides

Transcript

What BBN said on air. Comedy, with fictional anchors.

1. 

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

2. 

   Vera BullockJoining 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 BullockSo 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 BullockLet me ask you about December eighteenth. Kalanick told the TBPN show he doesn't know what's so specific about that date.

7. 

   Vera BullockDoes 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 BullockEleven.

10. FM

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

11. 

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

12. 

    Vera BullockKalanick'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 BullockThe 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.