California: Democrat Florez dangles vote on state budget

Fresno Bee ^ | July 6, 2002

[John Jorsett]

Valley Assembly member says wavering has less to do with his party's disciplinary action than the bill's tax increases.

SACRAMENTO -- Assembly Member Dean Florez said late Friday that Democrats shouldn't count on his vote for the $99 billion state budget pending in the Legislature's lower house -- a reversal from last week when the Shafter Democrat voted with his 50-member caucus to approve the spending plan.

[John Jorsett]

I thought this might happen. Florez has nothing to lose now, so he's going to give the finger to those hacks in his own party who were applauding his ouster from the Legislative Audit Committee. I love payback.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson removed him from his chairmanship of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.

Florez chaired the audit committee for four months and led the panel in an aggressive investigation of the Davis administration's handling of a $95 million, no-bid contract for software with Oracle Corp.

I saw this yesterday in an email from Simon's campaign. I don't know if anyone here posted it. Apparently, Democrat Florez is a little too ethical for his fellow Dems. He actually wanted to investigate Gov. Davis' actions in the Oracle scandal. Imagine that! He was removed from his post.

[Carry_Okie]

The Assembly was not in session Friday, and Wesson could not be reached to comment.

It's Wesson whose job is on the line now.

Rookie. At least he is pro-gun.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Give Florez a gold star.

He says:

"I hate this budget," Florez said. "It doesn't raise taxes on the rich and instead raises taxes on people who drive cars. Those are the people who live in my district."

How did he vote on the CO2 bill -- AB 1493 --- ?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

More trouble for Grayout Davis!

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[John Jorsett]

Yes, it was posted here. I think it was a combination of his scathing criticism of the Davis administration over the Oracle contract, plus the fact that the committee was about to start investigating why the state wasn't getting veteran's benefits to them, something that Simon has been beating up on Davis about. The last thing the Democrats wanted was another blistering report out of Florez on that subject just before the election.

[John Jorsett]

How did he vote on the CO2 bill -- AB 1493 --- ?

If I recall correctly, he voted to move it to the floor, then he took off for his son's ball game before the main vote. That's the excuse Wesson gave for throwing him off the Legislative Audit Committee. I'm sure it didn't win him any friends. The way that vote went down, there weren't an actual 41 Democrats available to vote for it. Somebody pushed the buttons to give it that many votes and then they had to go out and drag that many members into the chamber to affirm those votes. They literally locked the doors to keep them from escaping! The way this thing was crammed through the process just stinks to high heaven. Just thinking about it raises my blood pressure and I have to go think about something else before I give myself a stroke.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Know anyone with an in with a company that would be impacted negatively with this AB1493 bill?

[John Jorsett]

Know anyone with an in with a company that would be impacted negatively with this AB1493 bill?

Not directly, but personally, I'd sure hate to not be able to buy an SUV if I wanted one. And any family with more than two kids is going to get hurt if this thing takes effect.

I don't expect the auto industry, the UAW, and others affected to take this lying down. If Davis signs it, expect an initiative to overturn it. They'd have 90 days to come up with @420,000 signatures to get it on the ballot, and I'm betting they'd have no trouble getting that many. I'd love to see that happen so that Davis is put in the position of having to defend his support of what I expect will be unpopular with a lot of people.

[snopercod]

Republican switches sides = "Dog Bites Man"

Democrat switches sides = "Man Bites Dog"

[NormsRevenge]

"I hate this budget," Florez said. "It doesn't raise taxes on the rich and instead raises taxes on people who drive cars. Those are the people who live in my district."

I reckun Ol' GraYout done forgot about all his wealthy HollyWood and Beverly Hills Folks He Used to Represent at the State S;lop Trough in SnackinOnaTomatOe. They drive bg cars too! Oh, Thats Right They Can Afford IT... Hey Guv How About US Peons?

Florez for Lt. Governor
DUMP DAVI$ & the Den of Socialists



GO SIMON

[goldstategop]

What an irony it would be if the Rats sunk GrayDown's budget.

[NormsRevenge]

Wesson is Pro-Gun? Hmmm? S&W Smith and Wesson ,, He isn't from that family, is he?

[NormsRevenge]

Mr. Florez is an excellent candidate for a Party switch.

I love how politics corrupts people, Huh? :-)

[Carry_Okie]

Nope. Black guy.

[NormsRevenge]

Willie Brown da T'urd aka Herb We44on Jr. aka The Tuesday Night Massacre Kid ;-)

[NormsRevenge]

We44on=Wesson :-\

[Carry_Okie]

I've met him. He's clever, witty, funny, and a real back-slapper. He's pro-gun because he has seen how self-defense in the inner city is a truly stabilizing force. In some respects he might be trainable but for his addiction to power politics.