SACRAMENTO, CA – As Legislators review Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposal to close a $24 billion state budget deficit with massive cuts to schools, health care for children, home care for seniors and people with disabilities, and other human services, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) launched a statewide television ad today calling for a common sense, balanced approach to solving the state budget crisis.   

The ads draw on recent surveys that show voters – both Democrats AND Republicans – oppose deep cuts to vital services and favor an approach that balances cuts with new taxes. They particularly favor eliminating excessive tax breaks for corporations, which are set to receive multi-billion windfalls from new tax loopholes that were written into the 2008-09 budget agreement.  

“It is unconscionable to allow corporate special interests to avoid their fair share of taxes at the same time we take health care from kids, throw seniors and people with disabilities out their homes, deprive our students of an education, and undermine the quality of life of California’s working families,” said Eliseo Medina, SEIU executive vice president. “We need a fair and balanced approach that mixes cuts and tax increases.”

The seven-figure ad buy on broadcast and cable television covers Los Angeles and the Inland Empire, San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Sacramento, and Fresno.

The script of the ad, “Balance,” is as follows:

Narrator:

In Sacramento…a budget crisis.
To solve it, we need balance…cooperation...common sense.
The politicians propose cuts that hit families…with NO sacrifice from the special interests.
It means a million kids lose health care.
Hundreds of thousands denied college.
Seniors forced into nursing homes.
All while KEEPING huge tax breaks for Big Oil.  
And no tax hikes on tobacco or liquor.
Tell Sacramento to balance spending cuts AND taxes.

It’s just common sense.

The ad can be viewed at http://www.commonsenseforca.org/