California brings to mind the Beatles’ famous song “Taxman.” The state already has the highest income-tax rate in the country on top of punishing sales and gas taxes. Now it wants to tax your text messages too.

The California Public Utilities Commission is proposing to broaden the “Public Purpose Program” surcharge it currently imposes on phone bills to include text messages. Under the 1996 Telecommunications Act, states may tax intrastate telecommunications to promote “universal service.”