Issue quote: John Van de Kamp - John Van de Kamp, "California can't afford the death penalty," Los Angeles Times. June 10, 2009

But these days, there's also a strong economic argument for doing away with capital punishment. With California facing its most severe fiscal crisis in recent memory... it would be crazy not to consider the fact that it will add as much as $1 billion over the next five years simply to keep the death penalty on the books.