Assembly denies Sen. Maldonado confirmation as lieutenant governor

[Jeanfromfillmore]

Los Angeles Times | Feb. 11, 2010 | 4:10 p.m.


Assembly denies Sen. Maldonado confirmation as lieutenant governor


What was supposed to be a relatively quick debate over the confirmation of the appointment of Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) as lieutenant governor turned into a drawn-out, five-hour affair that could wind up being decided in the courts.


In the end, the Assembly failed to confirm Maldonado's nomination. He received 37 votes in favor of his confirmation, and 35 votes against confirmation. All but one of the Assembly's Republican members voting for his promotion. Only eight members of the 49-member Democratic caucus voted to support Maldonado. The Assembly's only independent member, Juan Arambula of Fresno, also voted in support of confirmation.


But it may not be over. In the end, the courts may be asked to decide what the definition of rejection is. At issue is whether Maldonado's nomination had to be rejected by a majority of the Assembly's 80 members as the administration maintains. Assembly leadership says Maldonado's confirmation was rejected simply because he failed to receive 41 votes in the Assembly.


More soon at: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/

[Ayatollahgondola]

http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2531881.html

Some Assembly Democrats said they would not vote for Maldonado because they felt the vacant office should remain open until the November election. They said Maldonado's voting record went against the interests of working people, including fellow Latinos.

And they wonder why we think they are racists...

"I can tell you that Latino voters don't just go for someone who has a vowel at the end of his name," said Assemblyman Hector De La Torre, D-South Gate.

What a foolish, poorly thought out statement. This guy was obviously lost for something to say.