The SacBee comes up with this scoop. Cross-posted at
my place. Also, thanks to Atrios for
his take on the story.
*
According to the SacBee, Schwarzenegger is investigating a radical overhaul of the state's $5 billion prison and parole system to release non-violent prisoners (read: drug offenders), up to 1/3 of the state's huge correctional population. (If we could release all of them three times, we could make up the entire $15 billion structural deficit;).
The inside baseball is that law-and-order state employees' unions and voters have pushed hard to drive up the prison population. Both political parties have been tough on crime, each trying to out-do the other - the first guy sent down for life under Three Strikes literally stole a piece of pizza. Since the state constitution has been so wrapped around the axle by the initiative process, symbolic campaigns have replaced actual legislative authority and accountability.
Subtext: if we have to honor the lavish correctional officers' contracts (pdf), this is the only way to minimize labor costs.
That we could get to this point and say with a straight face that we can release 1/3 of prisoners and parolees without damage to public safety is proof of the folly that has become California politics.
At least Arnie's tough guy act is good for something.