Nearly two-out-of-three California voters (64%) say illegal immigrants put a significant strain on the state budget as lawmakers struggle to close a $26 billion deficit.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of California voters shows that just 25% say illegal immigrants are not a major strain on the state budget. Eleven percent (11%) are not sure. 4% of [California Voters Say Illegal Immigrants Are Major Strain on State Budget July 23, 2009 ]

The useless governor and legislature have been happy to shut parks and close down new admissions to the Cal State campuses, but have left illegal aliens benefits off the chopping block. Schwarzenegger : Illegal aliens not cause of California's budget woes.

In response to dozens of questions from readers who say the state ought to wipe out the deficit by eliminating services for illegal immigrants, the governor said it is a "myth" that those immigrants are to blame.

He said the cost of services to illegal immigrants, which has been estimated at $4 billion to $5 billion annually, is a "small percentage" of the deficit California faces.

"Yes, it is something that ought to be dealt with, but the fact of the matter is, I think it's an easy scapegoat for people to point the finger and say, 'Our budget is out of whack because of illegal immigrants.'"

The Rasmussen poll shows the voters are no longer paying attention to Schwarzenegger's blathering.

See also an overview of what the California pols worked out for the budget, Details of the California budget deal.