As California lawmakers in Sacramento push forward with ambitious new tax proposals to plug budget holes created by federal cuts and runaway spending, one inconvenient truth stands out: the state isn’t broke because it taxes too little. It’s hemorrhaging money through fraud, waste, mismanagement, and a bloated regulatory apparatus that strangles businesses and drives residents away.

As of January 2026, the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Fairfield, California—a community landmark since 1976—is preparing for its imminent closure, scheduled between February 9–22. The decision by the global brewing giant to shut down the facility has stunned locals, particularly coming just 18 months after a $7 million upgrade.