The New America Fouondation has prepared a ten minute video on the budget. It’s pretty good on getting the facts out, not so good on making it that exciting. But, I know Calitics readers prefer substance over flash, so I’m pretty sure you will appreciate this.
Their quick take on the ballot measures: “Even if the voters approve every measure on the ballot May 19, they will do no more than kick the can down the road. The structural deficit will remain, and CA will still have big work to do to restore fiscal stability.” Sounds like something we said once.
I mean, it’s really, really wonky. It’s Powerpoint, so it’s hard to be too exciting. Good for the NAF for producing this though.
Wow, how about that huge increase in the share going to prisons? You’d think that would elicit some serious debate… and that legislators, instead of making kneejerk threats to cut education and social services, might look to see if there aren’t some policy alternatives to building and staffing an endless supply of new prisons.
is there a transcript of this thing available?