Backers of a new new television ad denouncing further cuts in health care programs have decided to debut the ad in Fresno, of all places.

Besides being the largest media market in the San Joaquin Valley, the Fresno area just happens to be in the districts of the Legislature's two Republican leaders, Mike Villines in the Assembly and Dave Cogdill in the Senate.

The 30-second ad, by a coalition of unions and health care advocates, urges the Legislature to "stop the health care cuts, or we’ll all pay the price." Taking a starring role are three Valley health care workers: Dr. Virgil Airola of Fresno, Kit deYoung, a licensed vocational nurse of Visalia and Carmen Morales-Board, a nurse practitioner of Bakersfield.

Lawmakers earlier this year slashed Medi-Cal reimbursement rates by 10%. The cuts went into effect two weeks ago. As a result, "many providers are being forced to end their participation in the underfunded Medi-Cal program or even have to stop providing services altogether," according to a statement by California Health Care Partnership, the coalition backing the ad.

Democrats are pushing for tax increases in the 2008-09 budget to help roll back some of the cuts. Republicans have resisted, saying tax hikes would harm the economy. As of today, the budget is 17 days late.

The ad debuts today. Coalition members include AARP, California Medical Association, Service Employees International Union, Catholic Healthcare West, Kaiser Permanente, and Health Access.

Watch it here: