(California) State budget deficit soars

[0rganism]

30. I balanced the budget on tax increases and prisoner releases

I think CA can find 40000 non-violent prisoners to parole without too much difficulty, although there would probably be other costs incurred by doing so. Also put the illegal immigrant prisoners up for federal deportation, but with only $100million saved that part is probably optional.

Plenty of options for raising tax revenue on the table on that calc. My choices: $.30 gas tax, the "temporary tax hike" option, a $0.30 alcohol tax, vehicle license fees, a $1.00/pack cigarette tax, a rate hike for high earners (biggest no-brainer on the page imho), crude oil tax, business tax break repeal, and voila we're done. I'm not too comfortable with the regressive gas, cig, and sales taxes, but at least there might be secondary positive impacts to long term choices for health and sustainability.

So, no cuts to any state programs whatsoever. Some prisoners get early release, but that helps with prison overcrowding too. Everyone pays a bit more, especially people who drink, smoke, and drive inefficient vehicles. This is not rocket science. Now making it fly politically, that's the tricky part.