The California Chapter of the Service Employees International Union began airing a 30 second commercial about the California Budget Deficit today as the new California Legislature was being sworn in.  The video features clips of President Barack Obama’s acceptance speech from Grant Park in Chicago, Illinios.

While never making a direct statement on tax increases and calling for “stable revenue” rather than more revenue, the ad specifically calls for no cuts to education and healthcare, the bulk of the union’s membership.

The California Legislature only moved by 2 Assembly seats toward the Democrats leaving the previous political dynamic intact.  Simple votes across party lines will not yield new results.

Darrell Steinberg, the newly elected Senate President Pro Tempore, has announced that the Senate Budget Committee will be a committee of the whole consisting of all 40 of the California State Senators.  The intent is to avoid redundancy and require the entire Senate to work on the state’s budget.  The new style is inventive, but doubt remains in the effectiveness of the continued budget negotiations.

Some are hoping for Federal Aid, including Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, who has been in contact with United States Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi requesting funds for aid.  Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is not requesting federal aid, saying he doesn’t want the federal government to solve our problems for us.