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Mickelson apologizes for complaining about high taxes

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    Golf star backtracks on public comments about possibly leaving California

  • Duration 4:00
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Pro golfer Phil Mickelson complains about -- tax is suggesting that he might even move out of California because it's getting so expensive to live there.

And now he's apologizing.

In part for saying so why would that -- -- Jim -- sportscaster Fox's contributor -- -- California.

From landed taxes how you doing -- good morning -- I did you you've had some contact with Phil Mickelson.

He put a statement out last night I'm -- just give us the background on this first -- west here a couple specific questions about.

I think the background is everybody's taxes out here in California for those making more than 250000 dollars went up to thirteen point 3% with the bond issue.

On the last -- election the presidential election.

So his taxes have increased to significantly and he makes a significant amount of money we had a brief conversation about this about a month ago.

And then over the weekend when he was playing in Palm Springs.

They said he was gonna have to make some drastic changes it got out that the drastic changes and he amplified on it was because of the tax structure here in California.

And he makes according to several reports and published reports about sixty million dollars a year between his salary and income from the golf course and from his sponsorship so.

That's -- went -- texted him I asked him -- would -- do an interview about this he said he'd like to think about it.

And then last night about 9:30 Pacific time he issued a statement that I got it and sent it on -- Yeah here is part of that statement you referring to Jim on the -- now finances in taxes Serra.

Our personal matter and I should not have made my opinions on them public.

I apologize to their lives to those I've upset or insult and assure you I intend to not let it happen again -- diplomacy.

Apologize.

Well he's also sudden the statement that finances and taxes are personal matters and shouldn't be out in the public domain.

And so I just think that he thinks that he's now going to make his decision and he brought this public he's frustrated a lot of people in California are frustrated he's not alone by any stretch.

The retro activity of the taxes being collected it goes into effect from.

-- November of 2012 all the way back to January of 2012.

So they collect on eleven months and he's just upset with the structure but he has decided that it's best that he decide that he makes an informed.

And intelligent decision was the word that he used in the statement for you this is it going to do that now he's gonna -- -- -- private.

This is what we found taxes you referred to this -- -- operate 39 point 6%.

That's federal California to operate thirteen point three.

If your self employed Social Security -- twelve point 4% so was -- about 63%.

It isn't too far off and that's.

That's right the ballpark and and your line of work.

You find many professional athletes many golfers in fact.

Who make their home in the state of Florida where there is no state income tax.

And that's their way of getting around.

And for somebody like Phil Mickelson if the reports are accurate at sixty million dollars a year.

He would save eight million dollars by leaving the state going to Texas or Florida or Nevada Wyoming -- won the states that don't collect.

State taxes but in addition bill there's a bigger issue here as well.

And I think that we're going to start seeing this with a lot of athletes.

You know it's very popular to come and play for the San Francisco 49ers.

-- the Los Angeles Lakers but at thirteen point 3%.

I think you're gonna see a lot more people considering Florida.

Considering Texas considering Tennessee there's a new team going to be going up to Seattle the state of Washington now in the NBA.

I just think you're gonna see some of these athletes with the salary caps just avoiding the state because they can get a thirteen point 3% -- by not playing here.

Value may be dead right about that -- about would be remarkable too I mean that that goes into the business decision of signing a contract.

Our Phil's gonna be out playing this week in the suggestion to the statement is that he might have a little more to this we'll see whether or not that's the case throughout the week here.

Thank you Jim as always good to have you on Jim Gray out of cal will appreciate this.

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