Calif. Assembly rejects Schwarzenegger pick for lt. gov but gov may still try to seat him
By Cathy Bussewitz, APThursday, February 11, 2010
Calif. Assembly rejects lt. governor nominee
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Assembly has rejected Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s pick for lieutenant governor, marking another failed attempt at bipartisanship for a Legislature that has become a symbol of dysfunction.
The state Senate voted relatively quickly Thursday to confirm Republican state Sen. Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria.
But his nomination hit a wall in the Assembly.
Several initial votes failed to generate majority support in the 80-member House before a final vote of 37-35.
Yet despite the rejection, there was confusion about Maldonado’s ultimate fate.
The governor’s office said it believes Maldonado’s nomination would fail only if a majority of the Assembly — or 41 lawmakers — voted to reject it.
