The campaign for Proposition 25 – the measure on November’s ballot that would reduce the legislative vote threshold for passing a state budget from two-thirds to a simple majority – released its first television ad today:
The proponents also launched a radio ad:
But Proposition 25’s opponents launched their first statewide radio ad today, too:
“We all want an on-time, balanced budget, but Prop 25 isn’t the answer. It’s just the latest attempt by Sacramento politicians and their special interest supporters to give themselves more power and perks,” No on 25 co-chair Allen Zaremberg, the California Chamber of Commerce’s president and CEO, said in a news release. “The politicians behind Prop 25 say it will take away their pay if the budget is late, but all Prop 25 requires is that politicians submit a budget – any budget – to the Governor, even one that is out of balance, and full of borrowing and gimmickry. Even worse, buried in the measure is language that makes it easier for Legislators to raise taxes.”
UPDATE @ 10:37 A.M. WEDNESDAY: The “Yes on 25” committee has sent a letter to California radio stations demanding that the measure’s opponents’ ad be pulled because it “contains demonstrably false statements about the effects of the ballot measure – statements which have been refuted by a California Court of Appeals in a very recent court decision. We ask that you stop broadcasting this completely discredited ad.”