Reply #9: Maldonado played the Olympia Snowe role in our recent budget battle [View All]

[KamaAina]

http://www.mercurynews.com/centralcoast/ci_11745649

The Republican lawmaker, who represents parts of Santa Cruz County, crossed party lines in the predawn hours and voted for a Democratic plan to close a $42 billion deficit after his colleagues across the aisle reluctantly agreed to his demands....

In supporting the budget Thursday, Maldonado broke with his fellow Republicans who had opposed higher taxes included in the deal. Meanwhile, his sympathies from Democrats were lost on the last-minute demands he made in exchange for his vote.

"It was a surprise to see him not supportive of our initial budget and see issues unrelated to the budget attached to his demands," said Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, a Democrat who also represents part of Santa Cruz County.

In the negotiations, Maldonado was able to get Democrats and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to drop a 12-cent-a-gallon increase in the gas tax, approve a ballot measure asking voters to freeze lawmaker pay during tight times and remove $1 million in furniture funding for state Controller John Chiang, an office Maldonado sought three years ago.

Abel Maldonado: Furniture hawk! :rofl: