Free Republic

Sacramento -- State Sen. Carole Migden, who came under criticism earlier this year for pushing the voting button of a fellow lawmaker to help passage of one of her bills, abruptly relinquished her position as chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday. The San Francisco Democrat said she wanted to devote more of her time to help Controller Steve Westly in his bid for governor. But sources in the Senate who insisted on anonymity said Migden, who is known for having an abrasive style, angered many of her colleagues in the past year and that the final straw...

Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, says she is taking a "temporary leave" from her role as chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Midgen says she is taking the leave to have more time to focus on Steve Westly's gubernatorial campaign. She will remain in the Senate, but with a lighter work load. "I'm going to be talking to [the Westly campaign], and I'm sure I'll have some fancy title," she said. "But I intend to spend a great deal of time day-to-day working on this campaign, and I wanted a minimal workload in the Senate during the next six months....