I received this missive from State Democratic Party Chair John Burton just a few moments ago. I think it's important enough to share verbatim:

Please join me in thanking Assembly and Senate Democrats for passing a common-sense budget before the fiscal year ends tomorrow.

Late last night, Assembly Democrats passed a spending plan that minimizes the cruel cuts advocated by the governor by raising $2 billion in new revenue. Just a few minutes ago, Senate Democrats followed suit, passing a plan that requires Big Tobacco and Big Oil to share in the state budget sacrifice.

Speaker Karen Bass, President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and their caucuses should be commended for standing firm against the governor's Draconian cuts.

In order to pass the plan, legislative leaders structured it to require a majority vote. That's because Republicans have repeatedly refused to provide the handful of votes necessary to pass the plan with two-thirds support.

Disappointingly, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vowed to veto the Democrats' budget plan, preferring to play a game of chicken with the budget. He and Legislative Republicans would rather strip health care from nearly one million children and close 220 state parks than ask corporate special interests to pay their fair share.

Now, the onus is on the governor and Republican lawmakers to explain to Californians why they would rather drive the state over a cliff than agree to a budget with a mix of cuts and new revenue.

Please, call Governor Schwarzenegger's office today at (916) 445-2841 or (213) 897-0322. Ask the governor to sign this budget plan, which minimizes the cuts by sharing the sacrifice.

Peace and friendship,

John Burton

IT'S A NIGHTMARE that is likely playing over and over in the heads of tourism bureau directors in beach towns around California: how many visitor dollars will go away if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger really shuts down our state parks?

In seaside getaways all along the coast, the lure of the ocean draws tourists and their money, but the parking lots and campgrounds at most state-run beaches will be padlocked in a year if the governor's proposal to close more than 80 percent of our state park system is approved. This will save the state $143 million and will likely put businesses dependent on visitors to state parks under water.

According to the California Travel Industry Association, studies have shown that every $1 that funds the state park system returns $2.35 to the General Fund, largely through economic activity in communities surrounding state parks. This is an estimated $350 million.

Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau Director Jim Luttjohann is finding the possible closures sort of surreal. "It's so huge it's almost unfathomable," he said. He just returned from a state conference on tourism where the mood was very somber. Schwarzenegger, who was scheduled to attend, didn't show up. Other pressing matters kept him elsewhere, his staff explained.

For beachfront hotel owners on state lands, the prospect of fenced-off dunes must seem ludicrous. Luttjohann pointed to one Ventura hotel's positioning near San Buenaventura State Beach, one of those on the closure list.

"We would have a beachside hotel where guests couldn't go to the beach."

ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL, in July of 2010, 223 of our 279 state parks will be fenced off and closed to the public. In Ventura County and neighboring areas that would mean the closure of the popular San Buenaventura State Beach, Carpinteria State Beach, Emma Wood State Beach, El Capitan State Beach, Gaviota State Park, Leo Carrillo State Park, Malibu Creek State Park, Malibu Lagoon State Beach, McGrath State Beach, Refugio State Beach, Point Mugu State Park and Will Rogers State Historical Park.

It will also close access to the majestic beauty of Big Basin Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz area and Anza-Borrego near San Diego, among many other treasured spots.

But closing a state park doesn't necessarily mean people will stay out, Luttjohan pointed out. There will be issues of safety with no lifeguards available in beach areas, no public restroom facilities and no maintenance. Vagrants could easily set up camp and the area will quickly become blighted.

Closures will force more beachgoers to neighborhoods with beach access unaffected by the budget cuts. Pierpoint Beach in Ventura could see an influx of visitors and beach lanes clogged by parked cars.

BUT THERE IS A SOLUTION. It's just not popular with the minority Republicans, who are against all new fees and taxes, even ones which could keep our state's tourism industry from taking a huge hit. Today the Senate Republicans voted against this plan despite polling done last year showing 74 percent of respondents in favor.

A $15 surcharge on vehicle license fees has been proposed which would allow anyone with a California license plate free day-use to our parks. (For example, the $8 entrance fee to San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura would be waived.) This would generate enough to keep all our state parks open with enough left over to pay off debt on past park bonds. But it needs a 2/3 vote by both houses of the legislature to pass.

Go visit a state park today while you can. Take a long walk on the beach or in the woods and ask yourself: is this something I want to live without? And how long do we let a stubborn minority ruin the state for the rest of us without offering any of their own solutions?

I HAVE A NEW HERO and it's California State Assembly Budget Committee Chair Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa). She made this video on the state's budget debacle and it's just spot on.

Since February I have been trying to explain to various bloggers via the comments section how we got into this mess. I now have a standard three-paragraph explanation that I have resorted to cutting and pasting over and over and over and over. It's getting a little tedious. (And no, it's not "fraud, waste and abuse" repeated 50 times.)

So you can probably imagine how delighted I was when I saw Evans' video. From those pesky propositions, two-thirds vote impasse and ballooning prison budgets to Grover Norquist and his bathtub, it's all here. Be sure to note section on bags of campaign cash and candidates and refer to my entry below.

Please, just take a few minutes from your day and watch this. Tony? Audra? You, too.

DOZENS OF SOGGY protesters made their voices heard during a driving rain out in front of Tony Strickland's state senate offices today. The protest was called by the 12th District PTA Council and they were joined in their efforts by local teachers, students, a district superintendent, several school board members and local Democratic activists.

The uncertainty hanging over everyone's heads was apparent with the number of signs calling for the state budget impasse to end. Others led chants of "What do we want? A budget NOW."

Legislators are still unable to agree on terms, but State Senate President Darrell Steinberg announced today a vote may be coming next week after many weeks of contentious negotiations.

The budget shortfall facing Californians is estimated to be $40 billion through July 2010. It is a certainty public education will be impacted in the fallout.

According to a recent presentation made to the Ventura Unified School Board, our schools could see a 16 percent reduction in their budgets with the plan the governor has offered, which includes a mix of cuts and revenue increases. "It's going to really change the way we do business in Ventura Unified and what we offer," Joe Richards, assistant superintendent of business services, explained during the presentation.

Joining the group today were parents and children who drove up from Lincoln Elementary and elsewhere in Ventura.

A recent report from Education Week gave California a big fat F on school spending. We are near the bottom and will be at the bottom after this round of cuts. They put us at $7,571, compared to the $9,963 national average.

from July 1, 1998, to June 30, 2008, state spending for K-12 schools didn't quite keep up with inflation and population, falling slightly.

A PREVIOUS PLAN put forth by state Republicans and endorsed by both Tony and Audra Strickland -- who have both taken the "no tax pledge" -- calls for much deeper cuts to education spending. A recent Public Policy Institute of California poll says most residents favor closing the budget gap with a mix of spending cuts and tax increases rather than just cuts.

Thank goodness there was no large counter protest mounted today, unlike the last time I covered a protest involving the Stricklands. Assembly member Audra Strickland's chief of staff Joel Angeles is now facing battery charges for his actions at the June 17, 2008 incident outside the Westlake Hyatt.

I spoke awhile with the lone dissenter in the crowd, Cathy Carlson of Thousand Oaks, who told me she didn't think budget cuts to the schools were a very big deal. Flitting around between members of the press, she was obviously trying to manipulate the media message coming out of the event. I listened politely, but sorry, Cathy, I'm just not buying what you're selling.

As for Mr. Strickland and staff, they were nowhere to be seen. Not surprising after Strickland and his wife both bypassed a recent meeting with all the county superintendents. Another meeting is planned soon and both legislators have been invited.