KCBA - Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz - News Weather-Reactions to Appointment of Able Maldonado to Lt. Governor
Member Center:
Monday night before a national audience the Central Coast's Abel Maldonado became a household name. That's because Governor Schwarzenegger picked Maldonado to become his Lieutenant Governor on Jay Leno's show.
Senator Maldonado's selection for Lt. Governor has definitely ruffled some feathers in both parties. Sacramento is buzzing with talk that the Santa Maria Senator won't be approved by the House and the Senate.
While Governor Schwarzenegger is smiling ear to ear about his most resent appointment, other Republicans are still upset," He's a pariah in his own caucus in the senate. He's not a favorite son by any stretch of the imagination of the state GOP, and by the way you have republican legislators who'd like to win themselves next fall, who consider themselves far more worthy and far more conservative to do so," said Political Analyst Gary Dietrich.
Maldonado, a senator from Santa Maria voted to increase taxes, and helped Schwarzenegger push the budget through, "He's really saved the governor's backside several times and most notably this year when its probably the worst year certainly Arnold's had fiscally," said Dietrich.
As for Democrats, many are mad the slot left open by Democrat John Garamendi, was not filled by another Democrat. If Maldonado leaves the Senate, a Democrat could win a special election to replace him. That would give Democrats 26 seats in the Senate, one vote short of a two thirds majority which is vital for approving budgets, bills and over-riding vetoes, "One can only imagine the number turkey trading going on right now in the state capitol because of who's interest is going to win out," said Dietrich.
Under the Constitution lawmakers have 90 days to act on Maldonado's appointment. If the two houses approve Maldonado on a majority vote, or don't act within that 90 day time limit, Maldonado will stay in the Senate, and Governor Schwarzenegger would have the option of finding a new nominee or he could leave the job vacant until the 2010 elections.
