Assembly Democrats release video on budget

State Democratic legislators have taken to YouTube as a wedge to break the logjam over a new state budget.

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) and Assembly members John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) and Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) have released a six-minute video on the popular web site, criticizing Republicans for refusing to consider any revenue increases as a way to solve a budget deficit estimated at more than $15 billion.

Bass specifically attacks the two-thirds requirement to pass a state budget, noting that few other states have such a mandate. The requirement means that a budget can't pass in both chambers without some crossover by party members.

"Now here we are, in the middle of the eighth largest economy, and the fact that it takes two-thirds vote to balance our budget, that one of the reasons we're in this problem that we're in," Bass says in the video.

State residents also speak in the video about how they feel government should reflect their values, which they define as money for higher education and seniors.

The video also blames Republicans for delaying budgets in other years and approving tax cuts that caused the current budget deficit, though Democrats have been in control of the Legislature for most of the last 20 years.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, also gets criticism for his proposals for cuts and to use lottery revenues to fill the deficit.

The video states that Bass is pushing for a bipartisan tax modernization commission to reduce the chances of future deficits. Republicans have called for other budgetary reforms such as a rainy-day surplus fund and a spending cap that Democrats have yet to embrace.

Viewers are encouraged to sign an online petition and contact their legislators to support Democratic proposals.