There's been lots of talk, but far too little action in regards to solving California's budget woes. But a few legislators hoping to actually fix the problem are doing more than whining -- they're finally acting. Thank goodness.

Today a bipartisan budget proposal will be revealed in the Assembly. Rather than view this as an usurping of authority by Sacramento's gang of five, it should be recognized as an effort to have common sense enter the budget debate.

The budget, crafted by a bipartisan group led by Assemblyman Joe Canciamilla, D-Pittsburg, and Keith Richman, R-Northridge, would essentially bring California's spending back to 1998 levels.

It would force deep cuts and, at the same time, would raise the state's sales tax by a half-cent, which would be used exclusively to pay off the $11 billion debt the state recently incurred in order to remain solvent through August.

It is not a simple budget; in fact, it's a budget that will cause pain throughout the state. Working with the legislative analyst, the bipartisan group has drafted a document that seriously addresses the budget crisis rather than cater to special interests.

In a phone interview Monday, Canciamilla told a Times editorial writer he expects the tough choices made in the proposed budget to result in some political fallout.

Still, we hope that rather than be considered dead-on-arrival, that this budget be given the review it deserves. At the very least, it should provide a foundation for the tough discussions that need to happen if the state is to resolve its budget deficit of up to $38 billion.

Certain aspects of this budget are certainly sensible, such as addressing workers comp and insisting that the state abandon education mandates that remain unfunded for two or more years.

Currently, partisan arguments have limited the budget debate and the result is inaction. Ultimately, the budget must be approved by two-thirds of the Legislature, and the sooner the two parties start looking at something and working together, the better off we'll all be.