States also have governments which make decisions (like the one being discussed here). That said, the grandparent comment is a massive oversimplification. California itself had tax revenue problems not too long ago.
California itself had tax revenue problems not too long ago.
In 2011, they had state-wide tax revenue of $282 billion. That was the year Jerry Brown followed Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor, and a series of tax hikes were put into policy.
In 2015, tax revenue was $405 billion.
So what you're seeing is a shift in policy from Schwarzenegger to Brown, and a closing of the revenue gaps because of it.
In 2011, they had state-wide tax revenue of $282 billion. That was the year Jerry Brown followed Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor, and a series of tax hikes were put into policy.
In 2015, tax revenue was $405 billion.
So what you're seeing is a shift in policy from Schwarzenegger to Brown, and a closing of the revenue gaps because of it.