Of the more than $5 billion a year in property taxes that go to redevelopment agencies, 20 percent is earmarked for affordable housing.  That's what brought several hundred people to a rally on the Capitol steps ahead of a Tuesday afternoon hearing.  Dianne Spaulding is with a Bay Area non-profit that represents affordable housing developers:

Spaulding: "We know first-hand that this program works, that the money works, that it is not wasted, that there's no fraud involved, and they can't just cut a program, dismantle it and then try to put Humpty-Bumpty (sic) back together again."

With the state facing a nearly $27 billion deficit, Governor Brown has said it's a matter of setting priorities: redevelopment funds come at the expense of schools, cities and counties.