the coalition backing the measure has until 25 June to decide whether to move forward or potentially strike a deal

It’s a clever way for the unions to effectively hold the state hostage, but it comes at the price of the harm that even the possibility of this tax has already done to the state economy.

A blog post on the topic.

The SEIU is known in California political circles for pioneering and perfecting the art of extortion via ballot initiative. Their usual strategy goes:

1. Propose a ballot initiative that will sound nice to voters, but which is actually deliberately designed to ruin some industry.

2. Demand concessions from that industry in exchange for withdrawing the initiative.