Gov. Jerry Brown proposes $8.3 billion in cuts

>> economy of the country's biggest state is back in the spotlight in a bad way today. just a few months ago, california 's budget deficit was projected to come in at $9 billion. the actual number is now out. it's almost $16 billion. that means cuts that are going to hurt, and a target is education. right at a time when education is getting so much attention focused on it around the country. our report from nbc's miguel almigar in los angeles .

>> governor jerry brown held little back.

>> this is a type of reckoning, and we have to take the medicine.

>> facing a nearly $16 billion budget deficit , today, the governor proposed $8.3 billion in cuts. the first step towards balancing the state 's chronically ill budget.

>> the fact is california has been living beyond its means. the united states of america and its federal government is living beyond its means.

>> among some of the proposed cuts, state employees will face furlough days and cuts, health care problems like those that help the elders will be cut. brown says part of the blame, the state 's sputtering economy and the still struggling housing market . california 's problem, but one states across the country face.

>> what starts in california , good or bad, tends to spread across country.

>> blaming republican lawmakers for blocking his push to raise taxes, the governor is now calling on voters in november to approve his spending plan.

>> what i'm proposing is not a panacea but it goes a long way toward cleaning up the state 's budget mess.

>> this week, he turned to youtube to make his pitch. within hours of his announce mentd, protest from state employees and push back from republican lawmakers.

>> we had two years of tax increases. it didn't eliminate the deficit. we had a deficit every year. it's not the solution.

>> tonight, public edge kagdz is once again in the cross hairs. after rounds of cuts, more could be on the way.

>> the question is how deeply will an already dysfunctional system of higher education be impacted?

>> california , the golden state , now in a sea of red. as the governor asked state employees to take a 5% pay cut, he himself has cut his paycheck by 20%. he warns if californians don't approve his tax increases, they will face deeper and more significant cuts.

>> this could get rough in california to come. miguel almaguer. thanks.