In the News

Census data released last week revealed that 2016 was a second straight strong year for median household income growth. Consequently, inflation-adjusted median household income is now at an all-time high, finally surpassing the previous record set in 1999.

Silicon Valley has been able to escape the heavy wave of federal regulations that other industries have faced, but that now could change as lawmakers question tech companies' practices in the 2016 election and their recent efforts to silence certain groups.

Northern California Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) unveiled on Wednesday legislation that will give substantial tax credits to low- and middle-income Americans. His goals include combating two of the most troublesome aspects of the American economy: income stagnation within the working class and rising instability caused by a shift from secure jobs with benefits to jobs (or gigs) lacking them.

More broadly, he's motivated by surging interest in Silicon Valley in using income redistribution as compensation for the costs imposed on workers by increasing automation.

The White House is bracing for a tax reform fight, with Democrats already on guard against any plan rewarding the rich (US president Trump now denies this will happen: "The rich will not be gaining at all with this plan," he said on Sept. 13). On the other end of the spectrum (and the country), Silicon Valley congressional representative Ro Khanna is introducing his own plan: a $1.4 trillion tax credit that could move the US closer to something resembling a universal basic income (UBI).

As Congress starts to debate President Donald Trump's plan to overhaul the tax code and cut corporate rates, a Silicon Valley Democrat is putting forward a radically different tax proposal.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara, will introduce a bill Wednesday that would give low-income and working-class taxpayers a big tax credit — and have a massive price tag.

Could a small change in a federal tax credit significantly reduce people's need for predatory payday loans?

San Jose says it might be interested in making a pitch to become Amazon's second home, but not all Silicon Valley officials are on board.

Rep. Ro Khanna, who represents California's 17th Congressional District — including San Jose — in Washington, tweeted that tech companies shouldn't be asking for tax breaks when they want to build a new headquarters. Amazon has said it is looking for financial incentives before deciding where to locate what it is calling HQ2.

Where would be the patriotic place for Amazon to put its enormous new office complex?

The company announced yesterday that it was looking beyond Seattle to build a second headquarters. Ultimately, HQ2, as Amazon calls the project, will house up to 50,000 workers and stretch over more office space than the Pentagon. Amazon welcomed proposals from cities and said it wanted a metro area with at least 1 million people that employees would find appealing.