School-Funding Initiative Starts TV Advertising

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — One of the two initiative campaigns supporting income tax increases to fund public schools has begun airing its first television commercial.

The spot for Proposition 38 says it is the only measure on the November ballot that sends "billions in new education dollars straight to our schools, and guarantees the politicians can't touch it."

Supporters are using that argument to distinguish their initiative from Proposition 30, Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to raise income and sales taxes to avoid $6 billion in education cuts.

Adviser Nathan Ballard says the Proposition 38 ad is airing in California's major metropolitan areas. He declined to say what it's costing.

The Proposition 30 campaign has not yet run TV ads, but spokesman Mike Roth says it will have enough money for a robust campaign.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.