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CA-Sen: Profile in Courage Chuck DeVore Explains Why He Failed to Vote During Abel Maldonado Confirmation
California Republican State Senator Abel Maldonado
I have previously posted about California Republican Assemblyman Chuck DeVore failing to vote yesterday TWICE in the Abel Madonado, Lt. Governor confirmation vote.
Photo courtesy of @KQED_CapNotes
Now, after much discussion on Twitter and the Blogospher comes the laughable explanation from Chuck DeVore.
“One year ago, I resigned as Assembly Minority Whip because I would not support the budget deal that led to the failed Proposition 1A — which would have been the largest state tax increase in American history. Senator Maldonado, by contrast, played a decisive role in putting 1A before the people. I won’t reward bad behavior with high office. It is in that spirit that I abstained from this vote.”
So why not just vote no on Maldo? As Chuck D explains in a Twitter exchange Friday with Fresno Bee reporter EJ Schultz, “The Assembly GOP Caucus decided to support Maldonado. Voting ‘no’ would be more a slap at them than the nominee.”
Continues Chuck D: “As you know, an abstention has the same net result as a “no.”
Well, Chuck, if the “failing to vote” is the same as an abstention which is the same as voting no, why didn’t you just vote no?
Or were you afraid of the Republican donors who you are smoozing in your U.S. Senate race might just object to YOU being the only Republican Assemblyman to vote against the Republican Governor’s appointee, Abel Maldonado, who also turns out to be a Republican?
I mean, hey, if you don’t like Abel or have some deep feelings why he should not be confirmed then, by all means, man up and explain it in a speech on the Assembly floor. You were there on the floor for the morning vote but were a “no show” in the second and afternoon vote. I guess you figured why bother.
Or, Just vote NO and keep your mouth shut if you are worried about your fellow Republican colleagues or the donors.
That is what a “principled conservative” would do, now wouldn’t he?
But, guess what Chuck?
You will get another chance to “fail to vote” for Abel Maldonado.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said today that he plans to withdraw the nomination of Republican Sen. Abel Maldonado for lieutenant governor, then re-nominate the Santa Maria Republican for the post.
The move will reset the 90-day window the Legislature has to confirm or reject the governor’s pick. In case you missed it, Maldonado failed to make it out of the Assembly yesterday, setting off a debate over what constitutes a rejection under the state constitution.
A third chance to represent your constituents, Chuck.
Such a deal.
Don’t blow it.
Technorati Tags: Abel_Maldonado, Chuck_DeVore
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Updated: CA-Sen: Profile in Courage Chuck DeVore Fails to Vote During Abel Maldonado Confirmation
California Republican Assemblyman Chuck DeVore tweeting about In-N-Out Burgers instead of voting?
Apparently Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, representing an Orange County District was present in the Assembly Chamber during one of two votes yesterday on the “failed?”confirmation of fellow Republican State Senator Abel Maldonado who was appointed to the vacant Lt. Governorship. But, DeVore failed to vote yes or no.
Why? I mean DeVore was present in the Assembly Chamber and he had pledged to vote against Maldonado, right?Maybe this tweet from Jon Fleischman explains DeVore’s non-vote:
Whatever that means? Chuck do you mean you will not vote because you disagree with a fellow Republican because of a budget vote, a series of votes or why? And, then, if you are opposed to his confirmation why not have the intestinal fortitude to vote against him. Don’t your Orange Count constituents who voted you into office at least deserve their Assemblyman vote on the issue?After the first vote, there was a reconsideration vote later yesterday afternoon, Chuck DeVore was either not present or present and failed to vote again. There is every indication that Assemblyman DeVore had left Sacramento in route to a campaign event for his United States Senate candidacy. The evidence that DeVore was absent from the Assembly floor was from his own tweet:
Note the approximate time of 1:40 PM of the above tweets. And, then there is the tweet from @CapitolWeekly which implies that Chuck DeVore was extolling the virtues of an “animal style” hamburger at In-N-Out Burger in Petaluma:
Well, I don’t know where Chuck DeVore was during the second vote on Maldonado’s confirmation. He can answer the question. I do know that he failed to vote again. Here is a photo of the Assembly vote board for the second vote:
Photo courtesy of @KQED_CapNotes
So, Chuck don’t you have some explaining to do?
First, to your Orange County constituents on why you abstained or refused to vote yesterday morning on the confirmation of Republican Abel Maldonado for Lt. Governor? Didn’t you pledge to vote against Maldonado?
Second, where were you during the second session debate and vote? Were you at the In-N-Out Burger instead of voting? Or, in route to a U.S. Senate campaign event?
And, why did you fail to vote again? Were you present in the Assembly Chamber to NOT vote?
Inquiring minds and especially California voters want to know, Chuck.
Finally, do you plan to duck more votes? If so, then perhaps you should just resign now from the California Assembly and save the taxpayers the money it pays you for non-voting.
Update:
John Wildermuth says you have to pick one of the buttons either aye or nay.
Here’s a reminder for the seven Assembly members who didn’t bother to cast a vote Thursday on GOP state Sen. Abel Maldonado’s nomination as lieutenant governor:
The green button on your desk is for “aye†and the red button is for “nay.†But you’ve got to pick one of them. There’s no button in the middle for “both ways.â€
The final tally was 35 Assembly members in favor of the nomination and 37 opposed. Since the “no†votes were a plurality, Democrats argue that Maldonado loses and the LG’s office stays vacant.
Not so fast, says GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who made the nomination in the first place. Since there weren’t 41 votes against Maldonado, his argument is that since the nomination wasn’t turned down by a majority of the Assembly, Maldonado is the new lieutenant governor.
Both sides have a point, which is great news for attorneys and bad news for the state, which will foot the bill for the inevitable court battle.
One thing’s sure, though. If the Assembly members who took a walk on the nomination vote had decided to do the job they were elected to do, which is make hard decisions, this long-running fight would be a lot closer to being settled.
Instead, they all decided to duck the vote and hope nobody noticed.
GOP Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, the man who would be senator, didn’t cover himself in glory either. He was the lone Republican to take a walk on the Maldonado vote.
For DeVore, the decision also was a political one. The blueprint for his longshot effort to win the GOP U.S. Senate primary is to become the poster boy for California conservatives and snag their votes in June. Right-leaning organizations like the California Republican Assembly and various anti-tax groups, whose support DeVore desperately needs, have been howling for Maldonado’s scalp for supporting the tax hikes in last year’s budget.
On the other hand, it wouldn’t do DeVore’s street cred with the rest of the party any good to be on record as the one Republican to join Assembly Democrats in cutting Maldonado off at the knees. So rather vote his conscience, the party line or a coin flip, DeVore decided not to vote at all.
I thought Chuck DeVore was a “principled” conservative? Maybe he is just a “self-called maverick?”
Or, the likely name is “WIMP.”
Technorati Tags: Chuck_DeVore, Abel_Maldonado
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CA-Sen: Profile in Courage Chuck DeVore Fails to Vote During Abel Maldonado Confirmation
California Republican Assemblyman Chuck DeVore tweeting about In-N-Out Burgers instead of voting?
Apparently Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, representing an Orange County District was present in the Assembly Chamber during one of two votes yesterday on the “failed?”confirmation of fellow Republican State Senator Abel Maldonado who was appointed to the vacant Lt. Governorship. But, DeVore failed to vote yes or no.
Why? I mean DeVore was present in the Assembly Chamber and he had pledged to vote against Maldonado, right?Maybe this tweet from Jon Fleischman explains DeVore’s non-vote:
Whatever that means? Chuck do you mean you will not vote because you disagree with a fellow Republican because of a budget vote, a series of votes or why? And, then, if you are opposed to his confirmation why not have the intestinal fortitude to vote against him. Don’t your Orange Count constituents who voted you into office at least deserve their Assemblyman vote on the issue?After the first vote, there was a reconsideration vote later yesterday afternoon, Chuck DeVore was either not present or present and failed to vote again. There is every indication that Assemblyman DeVore had left Sacramento in route to a campaign event for his United States Senate candidacy. The evidence that DeVore was absent from the Assembly floor was from his own tweet:
Note the approximate time of 1:40 PM of the above tweets. And, then there is the tweet from @CapitolWeekly which implies that Chuck DeVore was extolling the virtues of an “animal style” hamburger at In-N-Out Burger in Petaluma:
Well, I don’t know where Chuck DeVore was during the second vote on Maldonado’s confirmation. He can answer the question. I do know that he failed to vote again. Here is a photo of the Assembly vote board for the second vote:
Photo courtesy of @KQED_CapNotes
So, Chuck don’t you have some explaining to do?
First, to your Orange County constituents on why you abstained or refused to vote yesterday morning on the confirmation of Republican Abel Maldonado for Lt. Governor? Didn’t you pledge to vote against Maldonado?
Second, where were you during the second session debate and vote? Were you at the In-N-Out Burger instead of voting? Or, in route to a U.S. Senate campaign event?
And, why did you fail to vote again? Were you present in the Assembly Chamber to NOT vote?
Inquiring minds and especially California voters want to know, Chuck.
Finally, do you plan to duck more votes? If so, then perhaps you should just resign now from the California Assembly and save the taxpayers the money it pays you for non-voting.
Technorati Tags: Chuck_DeVore, Abel_Maldonado
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Obama Mocks National Tax Day Tea Parties
Those of you who are watching certain news channels on which I’m not very popular, and you see folks waving tea bags around, let me just remind them that I am happy to have a serious conversation about how we are going to cut our health care costs down over the long term, how we’re going to stabilize Social Security — Claire and I are working dilligently to do a thorough audit of Federal spending — but let’s not play games and pretend that the reason is because of the Recovery Act.
No, the Tea Pary folks KNOW what you and the Democrat dominated Congress will do – RAISE taxes.
Ignore the protests at your own peril.
Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Tea Party
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Website: Recall California Republican State Senator Abel Maldonado
Republican California State Senator Abel Maldonado voted to increase California taxes this morning and a group has already formed to recall him from office this afternoon. The website is here.
Action against Maldonado continues.A Facebook group has already been formed: Never Elect Abel Maldonado To Anything, Ever Again
Shame on you, Abel.
Technorati Tags: Abel Maldonado
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The Sacramento Bee California Tax Increase Calculator is Back and Revised
The Sacramento Bee had this tax calculator on how the Big-5/Big Tax California State Budget would affect your personal taxes the other day.And, now it has been revised reflecting changes made this morning by the California Legislature.
The Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are considering a budget package that includes tax increases. Use this calculator to see how the tax increases under consideration could affect your household. Click on a new cell or hit the calculate button when done and the totals will change.
By the way, when you see how much in taxes you will have to pay this year, remember it was California State Senator Abel Maldonado who made it all possible.
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California State Budget Aftermath – Never Elect Abel Maldonado To ANYTHING, Ever Again
GOP California State Senator Abel Maldonado with FROG
The repercussions against Abel Maldonado who provided the swing vote approving massive California tax increases this morning have already started.Now, there is a Facebook group: Never Elect Abel Maldonado To Anything, Ever Again
Members of this group pledge themselves to eternal opposition to any attempt by Sen. Abel Maldonado to advance his political career.
He sold his budget vote, imposing the largest tax increase in California history in exchange for legislation he thinks will advance his career.]
It’s time to stand up for Republican principles and apply chemotherapy to this cancerous political career.
Wow!
That was quick.
Abel Maldonado’s political career in California IS over.
Technorati Tags: Abel Maldonado
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California Legislature Approves State Budget With Tax Increases – GOP Senator Abel Maldonado Provides Swing Vote
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steingberg, D-Sacramento, holds up a sign indicating only one more Republican vote is needed to pass the budget during a media gathering deal outside the Senate chambers yesterday evening
Democrat California State Senate leader Darrell Steinberg got his one Republican vote in the name of Republican Senator Abel Maldonado and with it the California Legislature went on to approve the state budget with tax increases.Voting at dawn to end a three-month impasse, the California Legislature passed a budget package that addresses the state’s massive deficit with billions of dollars in new taxes and program cuts after Democrats and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reached a deal with a GOP holdout.
Sen. Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria provided the final Republican vote needed to pass a spending plan, which includes more than $12 billion in tax hikes. In exchange, Democrats agreed to rewrite election rules that Maldonado said had allowed the Capitol to become paralyzed by partisanship, leading the state to the brink of financial ruin.
And, the funny thing is that this budget does not solve California’s long term structural budget deficit problems and relies on a special election on May 19, 2009 to ratify some of the funding changes.
GOP Senator Maldonado in speaking in favor of the state budget acknowledged that his political careeer may be over in voting for these tax increases.
Maldonado is at least RIGHT on this.
More later…..
Technorati Tags: Abel Maldonado, California Budget
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Will GOP Senator Abel Maldonado Break the California Budget Stalemate and Sell Out California Taxpayers?
State Senator Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, gestures while calling for more reforms on the state budget plan before the Legislature, at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Feb. 16, 2009. Maldonado has been pressured to vote for the spending plan, hammered out between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders
This is the question as the California State Senate is set to reconvene at 10 AM in Sacramento.So, what does Senator Maldonado, the reputed stalemate breaking vote really want?
On Monday, Maldonado said he would “take a look at” voting for the budget package if it included financial penalties for future legislators who fail to pass state budgets on time or drive the state into deficit. And Maldonado, who lost a 2006 bid for state controller to a more conservative challenger, said he wants future California primary elections to be “open,” allowing voters to cross party lines to cast a ballot.
Though widely believed to want to run again for statewide office, Maldonado said in an interview: “An open primary is for the people of California, it’s not for me. I don’t want anything in this budget that’s for me. I’m not for sale.”
Yet, Senator Maldonado has made it clear over the weekend what is on his WISH LIST.
The Santa Maria Republican told reporters Monday outside his office that his list of demands includes four things. He wants an open primary system similar to those used by local governments in which the top two vote-getters regardless of party run in the general election. The system is said to favor moderate candidates, such as himself, rather than encourage primary hopefuls to woo voters at their party’s extremes. He acknowledged he plans to run for statewide office, but sold the open primary as more of a “good government reform.”
The open primary change would have to be approved by voters. Maldonado did not specify when he wanted it, but sources said he has asked that it be included on the May special election ballot before Maldonado attempts to run for statewide office next year.
Maldonado wants two items sure to be unpopular with his colleagues. He wants a law passed so the state would stop paying lawmakers if they do not approve the budget on time. He also wants a ban on legislative pay raises and per diem increases in years when California faces a budget deficit. An independent board, the California Citizens Compensation Commission, currently sets legislative pay.
And he threw in one last item: remove the pork spending from the budget package. He didn’t specify what qualified as pork, but leaders already have provided small sweeteners for various members to help win their support, such as $35 million annually for Orange County, where Sen. Lou Correa lives. Maldonado also wants to block state Controller John Chiang from spending $1 million on new office furniture, something Chiang’s office said was approved before Chiang was elected.
Maldonado sounded amenable to only getting part of his wish list, however. “I think government reform is a priority. It could be one, it could be two, at the end of the day, I want government to be reformed.”
It is obvious that the Senator wishes to run for California statewide office and wants his vote breaking the California State Budget Stalemate as a quid pro quo to help facilitate that result. However, what Maldonado does not understand is that by selling out California taxpayers, he will incur their wrath both Republican and Democrat.
The Democrat Leaders and Governor Schswarzenegger have played him the perfect fool. They will blame him as to holding up the proceedings and anything untoward as a result of the passage of the budget they will blame Abel.
So, rather than being an anti-tax hero in the GOP, Maldonado will be played a patsy by the Democrats and end his political career.
Not a smart move, Senator. Not for yourself or the California taxpayers.
In the meantime, California taxpayers can help persuade Senator Maldonado to not support the Big 5 budget deal with its concomitant tax increases. Here is his contact information:
Capitol Office
State Capitol, Room 4082
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4015
Fax: (916) 445-8081
San Jose Office100 Paseo de San Antonio, #206
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 277-9461
Fax: (408) 277-9464
Monterey Office590 Calle Principal
Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831) 657-6315
Fax: (831) 657-6320
San Luis Obispo Office1356 Marsh Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Phone: (805) 549-3784
Fax: (805) 549-3779
Technorati Tags: Abel Maldonado, California, California State Budget, Arnold Schwarzenegger
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Shocker: California on the BRINK of Financial Collapse? Governor Schwarzenegger Ready to Send 20,000 Layoff Notices
California on the Brink screams the Drudge LEDE.Shocking?
No, because California has been in financial trouble for some time now and RINO GOP Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is the main cause for his inability to lead and govern the Golden State.
So, where does California stand and what is the urgency?
Lawmakers adjourned tonight until Tuesday after failing for the third consecutive day to muster an elusive final vote for the state budget package.
The move came after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he would send 20,000 layoff notices on Tuesday and other administration officials warned of construction stoppages if the $40 billion budget shortfall and the associated cash crunch are not resolved.
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, said the Senate would consider the critical tax increase bill on Tuesday morning, whether or not a third Republican senator comes forward to provide the deciding vote. He said the house would stay in session until the package was approved.
“Bring a toothbrush, bring whatever necessities you need to bring,” Steinberg told senators as the house shut down for the evening.
The tentative deal would bridge an estimated $40 billion budget gap through a massive mix of program cuts, borrowing and new revenues, including vehicle license fee increases and higher gasoline, sales and personal income taxes.
Key elements require passage by a two-thirds majority of the Senate and Assembly – thus three GOP votes in each house.
The California State Senate will reconvene at 10 AM this morning and the tax bill will be taken up. Should the Big 5 Legislative Leaders not be able to persuade one GOP California State Senator to flip their vote for the California State Budget with tax increases, the stalemate will continue.
And, according to Democrat Senate Leader Steinberg, the Senators will be locked in the State Senate chamber until there is a resolution.
Here are the details of the Big Five crafted plan.
Revenue
The plan would raise up to $14.4 billion through June 2010 by imposing a variety of temporary taxes. The higher taxes would be in effect for two years. However, Republicans would allow taxes to remain longer – two more years – if voters approve a state spending cap during a special election in May.
Here are the specific taxes:- Increases the state sales tax by 1 cent on the dollar, generating $5.8 billion through the next fiscal year.
- Raises the fee for licensing vehicles to 1.15 percent of market value, up from the current .65 percent. The move is projected to generate $1.5 billion. A portion of the fee will be dedicated to local law enforcement.
- Adds a 12-cent gasoline tax, raising $2 billion.
- Imposes a one-time, 5 percent surcharge on people who owe personal income tax at the end of 2009 to generate $3.2 billion. If the state receives more than expected from the federal government, the surcharge would be reduced to 2.5 percent.
- Reduces the amount taxpayers can claim on a dependent care credit to the federal level of $100 instead of $300, adding $1.4 billion.
- Redirects $201.6 million of tribal gambling revenue from the state Department of Transportation to the general fund over the two-year period. The money is intended to offset the effects of increased traffic around Indian casinos.
The GOP Senate Caucus does not support the above tax increases and insist that more cuts in state government spending be made.
Stay tuned as the California State Budget Stalemate continues.
Flap will be live microblogging the California State Senate Session on Twitter (in the right sidebar) ——>
Technorati Tags: Darrell Steinberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Budget