Commentary: More money, same problems: My fellow California Democrats keep repeating this mistake

The California Legislature is poised to begin its summer recess having passed the latest state budget. The $310 billion plan is a reflection of our values, dedicating spending to getting homeless people off the street, supporting schools, keeping public transit afloat and treating mental illness. As a member of the state Senate’s Democratic majority, I voted for all of those things.

But as many Californians know, we’ve already spent billions of dollars on the same problems —