A closer look at state spending

John G. Matsusaka's recent Op-Ed raised some critical questions about the state budget. State spending, he wrote, has seen a "whopping 40% increase" in the past four years. Where does that spending go? The Legislature has a proposal to raise $8 billion in tax revenue to ease the General Fund shortfall -- but why should residents approve higher taxes if they can't see any benefit from state spending?

By Stephen Levy

July 29, 2008