Taking aim at legislative ineffectiveness, backers of a statewide ballot initiative to alter how political districts are drawn began airing their first radio advertisement Monday, a 60-second spot running statewide.
Jeannine English, spokeswoman for Yes on Proposition 11, declined to comment on how much was spent on the ad, how long it would air, or other details of the radio effort. The 60-second spot was unveiled at news conferences in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.
The ad does not mention Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is helping to lead the Yes on 11 campaign and has raised nearly $2.5 million to pass the constitutional amendment.
The 60-second spot was bankrolled by a coalition, but only two individual members are identified: Reed Hastings, founder of NetFlix; and Charles T. Munger Jr., a Stanford University physicist who has donated $1 million.
Proposition 11 would give a proposed 14-member independent commission, rather than lawmakers, the authority to draw legislative and Board of Equalization districts. Congressional districts would continue to be drawn by legislators.
Supporters say that Proposition 11 would hold lawmakers accountable by making seats more competitive. Opponents criticize the measure as a power grab by Schwarzenegger that would give Republicans more clout than warranted by voter registration statistics.
Paul Hefner, of No on 11, said the ad says nothing about the "confusing process" the measure would create, or other flaws, opting instead to make "phony promises that Prop. 11 can't possibly deliver, all to fool voters into embracing their hidden agenda."
Here is the text of the new radio ad, available for listening here:
ANNOUNCER: "Paid for by Yes on 11 - Hold Politicians Accountable, a coalition of consumer, senior, public interest, taxpayer, community and business groups and leaders, Charles Munger Jr. and Reed Hastings."
POLITICIAN: "Mr. Speaker, I move we table the measure..."
MAN: "The politicians started in January - let's see what they got done. First, the budget..."
WOMAN: "Late and not balanced."
MAN: "Reforming health care? Fixing schools? Dealing with the water crisis? Energy costs?"
WOMAN: "That'd be a NO."
MAN: "So what ARE they doing up in Sacramento?"
WOMAN: "Drawing their salaries, taking junkets, driving state cars, being pampered by staff and dropping by their offices to meet with lobbyists."
MAN: "We have to hold them accountable."
WOMAN: "That's why we need Prop. 11. It'll help end the gridlock by forcing politicians to pay attention to voters - and if they don't, it makes it easier to vote them out of office."
MAN: "Real political reform."
POLITICIAN: "We are recessed until, oh, Wednesday."
WOMAN: "Help the League of Women Voters of California, California Taxpayers Association, AARP and dozens of other citizens groups clean up the mess in Sacramento. Yes on 11. Check it out at Yesprop11.org"
@Nyx.CommentBody@