Jerry Brown makes ‘political advertisement’ for budget at victims’ rights rally

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Fresh from his tour of GOP strongholds in Southern California, Gov. Jerry Brown brought his pitch for Republican support of his budget plan to the Capitol steps Monday at a rally sponsored by crime victims.

The former attorney general told members of the crowd that he viewed public safety as the “No. 1” job of government, but that he needed their help to corral the GOP votes he needs to raise taxes for public-safety funding. Brown’s budget package has stalled in the Legislature without Republican support.

“I hope you’ll tell some of your legislators we’re gonna need some money,” Brown said. “Because you can’t run a prison, you can’t run rehabilitation, you can’t run parole, and you can’t run probation, on hot air. You gotta run it with real money.”

Many rally attendees wore shirts embossed with images of their deceased friends and family members. Hundreds of portraits of murder victims lined the walkways.

Brown praised their resolve and added: “I’m hoping that your courage will become contagious and inspire the reluctant few Republicans who we need to join up and get our budget done.”

“I know that’s a political advertisement, but so be it,” he said. “We need it.”

-- Shane Goldmacher in Sacramento