Meg Whitman, too? More top talent departs California

Former gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman is the latest billionaire to cut ties with California as the state grows increasingly malgoverned, unaffordable and hostile to wealth.Whitman recently sold a 1,500-acre ranch in Fall River Mills, in Northern California, for a cool $17.9 million.She had previously shed other Golden State real estate holdings (including a Sacramento penthouse last year) to live in Colorado.The former Hewlett-Packard and eBay CEO’s latest liquidation comes as a “billionaire tax” — which would confiscate 5% of any California billionaire’s assets — appears headed for the November ballot.It also follows years of dereliction from Sacramento.  California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story Gov.Newsom and legislators have ignored or exacerbated a long list of crises, from rampant homelessness, to sky-high housing, gasoline and energy costs, to a fraud epidemic the feds have stepped in to fight.Meanwhile, the Dems in charge — and their union and nonprofit cronies — have gorged on taxpayer money: This year’s state spending plan of $349 billion is more than double California’s $171 billion budget of 10 years ago.Whitman is the latest billionaire to decamp for a better-run state.Her shift follows a long list of others; many fled at the very proposal of a 5% wealth tax advanced by the hungry SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, which seeks money for its members.But Whitman’s decision to cut the cord to California carries particular resonance: She was the last GOP candidate to run a competitive race for the governor’s mansion.

She brought strong ideas and a pile of her own cash to a contest she lost to Jerry Brown, 53.8% to 40.9%.The ex-CEO campaigned on common-sense issues such as cutting fraud, restraining state spendi...