Posted on 11/09/2006 8:15:25 PM PST by calcowgirl
Assembly Republicans on Thursday ousted their party leader, selecting a more conservative lawmaker who has repeatedly clashed with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the chamber's Democrats.
The post-election move signals a more partisan shift by the minority party and comes the same day the Republican governor trumpeted his bipartisan dealmaking while on a trade trip to Mexico.
Assembly minority leader George Plescia, R-La Jolla, had been in his post only since March before he was replaced by Assemblyman Mike Villines of Clovis.
Villines is a former aide to Gov. Pete Wilson and Sen. Chuck Poochigian of Fresno, who lost a bid for state attorney general on Tuesday to Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown. He was elected unanimously during a four-hour Assembly GOP caucus meeting.
The shakeup comes after a year in which Schwarzenegger largely worked around Republicans in the Legislature, who as a group are far more conservative. He struck deals with the majority Democrats to raise the minimum wage, push for greenhouse gas reductions from industry and cut costs for prescription drugs.
Villines, 39, said he prides himself on being a fiscal conservative. He said he hoped to work with the governor to reduce the state's deficit, monitor the spending of bond money and address jail overcrowding.
"The work we need to do is important," he said in a telephone interview. "We can develop more of a spirit of cooperation."
He also said the leadership change would provide more continuity for Assembly Republicans because he was re-elected to only his second term on Tuesday and can serve one more before he is termed out of office. Plescia, also re-elected this week, has just one more term left.
"There's a little more longevity with me," Villines said.
In a statement, Plescia, 40, congratulated the new minority leader and said he would work with him to ensure a smooth transition.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, who was re-elected Thursday by his peers to a third term, said he hoped Villines would work with Democrats to "continue the bipartisan progress" they achieved with the governor.
"If there is any lesson to be learned from the election, it is that California voters want us to be partners, not partisans," Nunez said in a statement.
Democrats retained their majorities in both houses Tuesday and won six of the eight constitutional offices. Besides Schwarzenegger, Insurance Commissioner-elect Steve Poizner is the only Republican holding statewide office.
The move by Assembly Republicans runs counter to the bipartisan pitches being made by Democrats and Republicans across the country in the aftermath of Tuesday's election, a landslide for Democrats.
In Washington, President Bush pledged to work with Democrats during a meeting with Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, who is positioned to become the first female speaker of the House. In Mexico, Schwarzenegger touted his relationship with Democrats and suggested Washington follow California's example of bipartisanship.
The governor issued a statement saying he looked forward to working with Villines.
"We have a historic opportunity to achieve even more accomplishments by continuing to build on the bipartisan spirit of cooperation in the state of California," Schwarzenegger said.
Stanley Moore, a professor emeritus of political science at Pepperdine University, said Republicans were making a mistake by dumping a centrist in favor of a more conservative leader.
"I guess they would like to commit suicide," he said.
Democrats hold an 8.4 percent registration edge over Republicans in the state 42.7 percent of registered voters versus Republicans' 34.3 percent. Independent voters account for nearly 19 percent of registered voters.
Republicans had hoped to make gains in statewide offices, specifically for lieutenant governor and controller, but their candidates for both offices were defeated. Even incumbent Secretary of State Bruce McPherson, a moderate Republican who is typically well-liked by Democrats, lost his bid for re-election.
"Republicans are doing exactly what they shouldn't be doing," said Moore, who described Villines as a conservative ideologue. "What they seem to be saying is, 'We're not going to listen, we're not going to compromise, we're just going to say no, no, no.'"
Republicans began complaining about Plescia shortly after his rise to the leadership. They grumbled when he struck a deal with Democrats to place a $37.3 billion infrastructure bond package on the November ballot.
The bond package was a centerpiece of Schwarzenegger's re-election campaign, but many Republicans believed it represented irresponsible spending. On Tuesday, voters approved all four measures, which will provide funding for roads, schools, levees and housing.
Villines wrote the ballot argument against the transportation bond and voted against the education bond. He also aligned himself with many other Republicans in voting against the state budget, a deal that Plescia helped broker.
Plescia also was seen as pliable by the executive branch.
On an audio tape of a private meeting last March between Schwarzenegger and a handful of aides, the governor could be heard wondering whether Plescia could "control that wild bunch upstairs," referring to the Assembly's Republicans.
Schwarzenegger chief of staff Susan Kennedy, a Democrat who also worked in the administration of former Gov. Gray Davis, added that Plescia looked like a startled deer.
The audio tape became an issue in the gubernatorial campaign after it was leaked to reporters by aides to Democratic candidate Phil Angelides.
Hope again MAY just come out of CA. Duncan Hunter maybe!
Late word... Assembly Republicans have chosen a new leader for the 2007-08 legislative session: Assemblymember Mike Villines of Clovis.
Villines was selected by what's being described as a unanimous vote of the 32 member Assembly GOP caucus, which spent some four hours behind closed doors today. Rumors have been rampant the past few days about lawmakers who might challenge former Minority Leader Assemblymember George Plescia (R-San Diego).
Plescia had been the top dog in the Assembly Republican caucus for less than seven months, and apparently failed to retain the support of his fellow Republicans. "They just wanted a little bit more stability and continuity," said caucus spokesman Morgan Crinklaw, who noted that Villines has four years left on his eligibility under term limits... while Plescia is termed out in 2008.
Plescia was not known as a dynamic leader. In fact, the audiotape of a private chat between Governor Schwarzenegger and his aides that was leaked a few weeks ago included a jab at the lawmaker; the governor's chief of staff, Susan Kennedy, described Plescia as looking "like the deer that keeps getting caught in my yard when I leave the gate open."
This is the third Assembly GOP leader in less than a year; Assemblymember Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), who was elected to Congress on Tuesday, handed the reins over to Plescia back in late April.
Go get em Mike! Compromise is for girlymen.
GAG!!!
Finally in print. Under the AP banner no less.
Next, AP will be publishing:
The shakeup comes after a year in which Schwarzenegger largely disenfranchised Republicans in the Legislature,
Plescia also was seen as pliable by the executive branch.
How hard is it to grasp that California is NOT a conservative state and will NOT elect a conservative? You'd think the past few elections would demonstrate that.
What's the definition of "futility"?
Don't believe all of the AP spin. As they did get parts right, as Amerigomag has pointed out, Plescia is also a conservative--just one that was not greatly effective in representing Republicans when strongarmed by the administration. This is the man that was wooed into voting yes for issuing bonds to build housing for farmworkers. We needed better. Hopefully Villines will do a great job.
In view of Tuesday's outcome are you sure you want to stick to your theory?
Watch Arnold go to war with the GOP in the legislature now, as the votes for his big spending budgets are no longer guaranteed.
From my perspective this more recent comment would suggest some flexibility in the earlier offering.
That is how what rest of the GOP across the country(DC), should be doing!!!
A deer in headlights, as Susan Kennedy said.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
It's the way I've felt for a long, long, time.
Are they still around?!
Would you be referring to Leslie? Most notable to me as being the guy that pushed through the 25 million acre landgrab, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
Don't feel too bad... I live in L.A. County.
Yeah... they are the ones that have prevented new taxes and even more bloated budgets from getting enacted. Their efforts seem to be underappreciated.
I've lived in California for 12 years. Conservative states don't elect Feinstein and Boxer multiple times. No offense but to suggest otherwise is simply delusional.
I'm guessing you don't live in the major population centres of the state.
I don't know if California is really conservative or liberal, because I don't trust the integrity of the voting. I think there is a significant amount of fraudulent Democratic voting.
You've gotta love the AP. They try so hard. This election was not lost on the pricipal(sp) of being too conservative. But on not being authentically conservative enough.
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