Bill Maher Criticizes California’s Tax Burden on Businesses

Comedian Bill Maher expressed strong criticism of California’s tax burden on businesses during his “Club Random” podcast. He humorously compared the state’s tax rates to the markup taken by drug dealers from whom he bought in the past, stating, “The state takes like 40% taxes. When I bought drugs from a skeezy dealer, he didn’t skim 40%.”

In another comparison, Maher remarked that while selling marijuana, he never took as sizable a cut as the state now does through taxes. He shared, “I would buy a pound, which is 16 ounces, and make 17 ounces out of it. That’s not 40%, but the government is worse than the dealer.” Although Maher’s comment about 40% was made casually, California imposes one of the nation’s highest corporate tax rates at 8.84% for most businesses. This rate does not include the federal rate of 21% for class C corporations, payroll taxes, and other fees businesses face.

Maher’s guest, actor and comedian Jack Whitehall, joked that California’s high taxes force business owners to diversify into gardening businesses and tea rooms to sustain their operations.

Maher has previously discussed taxation, particularly criticizing figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., for stating that the wealthy do not pay sufficient taxes. In a segment in April, Maher explained, “Last week was tax day… I paid to the government, if you add in state tax, local, sales, property, fees [and] Obamacare, probably almost 60% of what I earn. And while I’m sure the super-rich, with their army of accountants and corporate loopholes, get away with murder, us regular rich people pay a s— ton of taxes.”

He also criticized Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., over her “Tax the Rich” dress at the Met Gala, stating, “It’s not like we don’t tax the rich at all. I’m all for ending income inequality, but let’s not lie. The rich pay a lot of the taxes.” Maher concluded, “The rich pay some taxes! They pay a big part of the freight already. I’m not saying it shouldn’t be more perhaps, but let’s not lie.”

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Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report. Taylor Penley serves as an associate editor for Fox News Digital and contributes to FOX Business and Fox Nation, covering media and culture.