CA Governor Jerry Brown Hits YouTube

California Governor Jerry Brown took the California budget war online with a no-nonsense YouTube video appeal to California voters.

Jerry Brown has vowed to balance the state budget deficit by any means necessary to close a gap of $26-billion.

The California State Legislature is halfway there, agreeing to cuts in services for the poor, the disabled, college students, state parks and health care.

In Governor Brown's own words, the cuts will cause "drastic alterations in the very fabric of our public service" but are necessary in a fiscal emergency.

State Republicans are against the temporary tax extensions Brown wants and they are blocking the governor's attempt to put them on the ballot.

The YouTube video (below) is Jerry Brown's way of confronting obstructionists.

"We've been kicking the can down the road.  You've been treated with evasions, and gimmicks—smoke and mirrors... There's been a tendency to avoid reality, and you can't do that forever," declared the 39th Governor of California in his video statement.

Governor Brown continued, "This is a matter that is too big, too irreversible to leave just to those you have elected... So let me know, let your legislators know, would you like the chance to cast this vote, or would you feel it's appropriate to shut out the people of California?"

Taking the case directly to the voters with a YouTube video is a bold and unprecedented move by a governor, but Jerry Brown has always marched to his own drummer.