Schwarzenegger picks Maldonado (R) for lieutenant governor

[Newsjock]

Source: Sacramento Bee

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today said on The Jay Leno Show that he would appoint Republican state Sen. Abel Maldonado to fill the vacant lieutenant governor's job, perhaps setting off a partisan squabble over his confirmation.

Maldonado, 42, of Santa Maria, has been one of the few GOP allies the Republican governor has in the Legislature. He provided a key vote this year to help Democrats and Schwarzenegger push through tax increases and a budget plan over the objections of most Republican lawmakers.

Leno asked the governor who he was going to appoint. Schwarzenegger said Maldonado "makes decisions based on what's best for the people rather than what's best for the party," according to an NBC transcript. "He has helped us, many times, pass a budget, which was very important."

... His appointment to the slot left open by the election of Democrat John Garamendi to Congress earlier this month sets up a potentially difficult confirmation fight in the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

Under the constitution, lawmakers have 90 days to act on Maldonado's appointment. If either the Assembly or the Senate rejects him on a majority vote, he will remain in the Senate and the governor would have the option of finding a new nominee or leaving the job vacant. If the two houses approve Maldonado on a majority vote - or fail to act within 90 days - he would fufill the final year of Garamendi's term.

... In 2000, Maldonado, who was then 32, related his story to the Republican National Convention in Spanish - a first for the GOP - telling the national television audience, "Que viva el Gobernador George W. Bush" - long live Gov. George W. Bush.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2343266.html

[kestrel91316]

1. We have a vacancy in the Lt Gov office??

[msongs]

2. goes with the defacto vacancy in the governator's office lol nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Yes, we do:

... His appointment to the slot left open by the election of Democrat John Garamendi to Congress earlier this month sets up a potentially difficult confirmation fight in the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

[kestrel91316]

8. Somehow I missed that, lol

[2Liberal]

4. Blind leading the blind

"He has helped us, many times, pass a budget, which was very important."

...and the budget of California has been such a success lately.


Elect Arnold Schwarzenegger to be your governor, what the hell do you expect?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. I am here to tell you that I did not vote for this joker.

A lot of Californians were star-struck by him...

Not any more.

Just sayin'...

[shanti]

6. exactly, californiapeggy!

:hi:

i know of two state workers who revealed that they voted for him. the fact that they are both airheads does not engender confidence in our populace. many ARE starstruck...sad.

:(

perhaps the california GOP see a gubernatorial run for maldonado :shrug:

[Xolodno]

7. The Govenator....

...from something I read not too long ago has already stated he's not going to seek another office once his tenure is up.

As for Maldonado, no way he'll get confirmation. The republicans won't approve of him, he doesn't qualify as being bat shit crazy.

[KamaAina]

9. Maldonado played the Olympia Snowe role in our recent budget battle

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: