Early release

We knew it couldn't be that easy. There had to be at least one more temper-tantrum. One more misunderstanding. One more thing that put the entire $25 billion budget deal in jeopardy.

Mayhem, thy name is prisons.

First, the LA County Board of Supervisor threatened to sue the state over cuts to local government. Then, Michael Rothfeld's outline of a prisons package in the LA Times set off a firestorm. 

Rothfeld reports, "Less than 24 hours after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders announced a plan to close California's massive budget deficit, Los Angeles County officials moved to sue the state, a union for government workers said it might strike, and Republicans threatened to back out of the deal over a provision to cut the number of prison inmates by 27,000.

"The governor largely stayed out of sight, except for posting a brief video on Twitter in which he played with a big knife and talked about autographing state property to be sold at auction to raise extra money. Legislative leaders, meanwhile, began to brief their members, and staff started compiling a formal proposal in anticipation of a vote that could occur Thursday."

And some, inadvertantly, briefed the media, thanks to an e-mail from Dennis Hollingsworth that was intercepted by Capitol Weekly. 

Another e-mail, this one from Assembly GOP Leader Sam Blakeslee, made it sound as if the entire budget deal was in trouble.

"We had a clear understanding with the democrats that NO corrections bill would be a part of the budget and that we would have an honest chance to contest the policy issues in the light of day in August.  

Just two hours ago I learned from staff that Senate democrats are concocting a radioactive corrections bill that includeds the worst of the worst _ sentencing commission and release of 27,000 prisoners, etc

When I spoke with Dennis he was as surprised and upset as I was regarding what appears to be a serious breach of the agreement in the Big 5.

I have called and personally told both Karen and Darrell that there will be no republican votes for any portion of the budget if they allow such a bill to be part of the package."  

The e-mail set off a brief frenzy in the Capitol, and even drove Corrections secretary Matthew Cate to brief the media about the governor's prison plan. Later Tuesday evening, Capitol Weekly reports, the governor's office confirmed that while the Big 5 agreed to $1.2 billion in corrections savings, no details had been worked out between the parties.

So, can we all just take a deep breath yet?

The Bee's Sanders and Yamamura report, Steinberg said there was no "double cross" and predicted the issue would be resolved amicably.

"I think it's nothing more than a simple misunderstanding," Steinberg said. "Emotions are high and this is an extraordinary (budget) situation. This will be worked out."

The Chron's Matthew Yi outlines the governor's proposal on prisons. 

-- Sending thousands of old and sick inmates to non-prison hospitals.

-- Allowing some non-violent, non-sex offending inmates to serve the last year of their sentence in house arrest.

-- Allowing some non-violent inmates to earn time served by receiving GED or vocational training.

-- Creating a sentencing commission to overhaul the state's sentencing laws.

The governor would also begin considering thousands of illegal immigrant inmates who may be turned over to federal authorities for deportation."

We're just going to take a wild guess and expect to see some law enforcement types walking the halls of the Capitol today...

Once this gets resolved, we can get down to the real budget business -- lawsuits!

"Everything's going to be back on the table," said a stunned San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, whose city could wind up handing $100 million to the state, including as much as $67 million in redevelopment money," the Merc's local political team reports. 

"He added: "We will certainly be joining in with other cities in litigation." Opponents say the move is unconstitutional because it reroutes funds earmarked for specific purposes like repairing roads and fighting blight.

The Chron's political team wonders aloud, or in print, whether Gavin Newsom has an Al Gore-like problem with stretching the truth. 

Meta-narrative creation alert! Meta-narrative creation alert!

"In making a case for how he will tackle the daunting financial and social challenges of the nation's most populous state, Newsom has stressed at the forums what he says are his city's landmark accomplishments in four key areas: health care, the environment, the budget and education.

"But some critics suggest that, in his quest to boost his political profile, the mayor may be overstating those accomplishments or, in some cases, is oversimplifying the issues.

"

Newsom repeatedly touts San Francisco's universal health care plan, known as Healthy San Francisco, and voter-mandated funds to improve its public schools as his key undertakings. But both were spearheaded by then-Supervisor Tom Ammiano, now a member of the state Assembly.

"He kind of came along for the ride," Ammiano said of Newsom. "Trying to get too much credit is a little cheesy."

Ouch.