As state lawmakers returned to Sacramento for a new legislative session this week, Democratic members are having serious behind-the-scenes conversations about ways to raise revenue for the state budget.
State spending has outgrown its tax revenues and in recent years the budget has faced structural deficits in the tens of billions of dollars. Barring drastic cuts to spending or bringing in additional revenue, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates the deficit could be as high as $18 billion this year and $35 billion in future years.
“We’re really looking at the various options,” said Assemblymember Sade Elhawary, D-Los Angeles, who in recent months has drawn on her organizing background to corral dozens of Democratic lawmakers onto Zoom calls to meet with experts and discuss options. “There are so many good ideas … but we don’t know that we’re at a place where we can say, ‘This is the one.’ ”…