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California: Dean Florez

February 19, 2009 - 03:00 am
NEWS FEED: Los Angeles Times

Pitched battle for one vote that would pass budget

By Patrick Mcgreevy And Jordan Rau

Reporting from Sacramento -- As state senators spent a second frustrating day locked inside the Capitol, Democrats and the governor began closing in on a deal with a GOP holdout that had the potential to resolve California's fiscal emergency.

The agreement would involve Sen. Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria providing the final Republican vote needed to pass a spending plan with $14.4 billion in tax hikes in exchange for the Legislature rewriting election rules that Maldonado says are stacked against political moderates like himself.

The deal started to gel following seven votes held throughout the day and into the night. Each time the senators came up short of the support to approve the budget package devised by Gov.

Read More at Los Angeles Times >
There have been 35 comments posted in response to this story.

February 11, 2009 - 07:24 pm
NEWS FEED: Capitol Weekly

Big Daddy

By Big Daddy

Hey Big Daddy,
It seems like lobbying is at an all-time high around this place. Do they have too much power?
Signed,
Lois in Lodi

Hey Lois,

My thoughts on the relationship between lobbying and lawmakers are well know: If you can’t eat their food, drink their liquor, etc. etc. etc. But that statement was made in another time and place, back when the Legislature was filled with people who actually did belong.
These days, I’m not so sure the underlying assumption of that quotation holds. And it’s not just because we’ve got more boring tea-totalers in the Legislature than  we used to. There’s no denying that the power of special interests has increased exponentially in this town.

Read More at Capitol Weekly >
There have been 34 comments posted in response to this story.

Thu, 12/11/2008 - 17:52

Denham's in for 2010 lieutenant governor's race

By Ben van der Meer, PolitickerCA.com Senior Reporter

State Sen. Jeff Denham (R-Merced) formally announced a bid Thursday for lieutenant governor in 2010, and in doing received the endorsement of three other potential competitors for the Republican nomination.

Denham, who is termed out of his 12th Senate District seat in two years, said in a statement released by his campaign that he would focus on improving the state's regulatory environment for businesses, selling properties the state owns needlessly, and curb perks for top officials at the cash-strapped University of California system.

There have been 39 comments posted in response to this story.
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 20:32

Lieutenant governor post still eyed by two GOP state senators

By Ben van der Meer, PolitickerCA.com Senior Reporter

Two Republican state Senators termed out in 2010 have affirmed they are still interested in what will likely be an open lieutenant governor position that year.

Read More >
There have been 59 comments posted in response to this story.
Mon, 12/01/2008 - 17:14

Senate Democrats announce new leadership team

By James B. Gerber, PolitickerCA.com Reporter

SACRAMENTO -- State Senate President pro tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) announced his new Democratic leadership team for California's upper legislative house Monday.

"These difficult economic times call for a Legislature that focuses on production and work on behalf of the people," Steinberg said in a statement announcing the appointments. "I am honored to have these dedicated public servants as partners in solving California's greatest challenges."

There have been 7 comments posted in response to this story.
Thu, 11/13/2008 - 20:23

Expert says chances of Schwarzenegger joining Obama team doubtful

By Ben van der Meer, PolitickerCA.com Senior Reporter

For a number of reasons, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't likely to take a position in the Obama administration even if offered one, said a political science professor at California State University, Sacramento.

Too many factors here and on the national front make it a less-than-ideal fit, said Tim Hodson, director of the university's Center for California Studies.

Among them is that while Schwarzenegger won't be doing state Republicans any favors by taking a job in environmental or energy agencies, Hodson said.

There have been 34 comments posted in response to this story.
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 14:39

After endorsing Gilmore, Parra says she may run as independent

By Ben van der Meer, PolitickerCA.com Senior Reporter

After bucking her party Monday to endorse the Republican seeking to replace her in the Assembly, Nicole Parra (D-Hanford) said she's not ruling out a future run for office as an independent.

Parra, termed out of the state Assembly this year, endorsed Danny Gilmore Monday morning over Democrat and Shafter Mayor Fran Florez, member of a political family that's feuded with Parra.

"It's less about her and more about Danny Gilmore," Parra said, though she acknowledged that she wasn't happy when she heard Florez was running for her seat.

There have been 34 comments posted in response to this story.
Mon, 08/25/2008 - 21:20

Florez says California will play greater role in election; Lee says Hillary dissidents will unify

By Jeff Mitchell, PolitickerCA.com Editor

DENVER -- State Sen. Dean Florez told members of the 441-member California Democratic Party earlier Monday that he predicts the Golden State will play a much larger role in this fall's presidential election than just that of campaign checkbook.

"Make no mistake, California will be a bellwether state in this election," Florez (D-Shafter) told the excited audience.

There have been 30 comments posted in response to this story.
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 11:54

Rubio not concerned about possible race against Parra in 2010

By Ben van der Meer, PolitickerCA.com Senior Reporter

Kern County Supervisor Michael Rubio said a 2010 run for state Senate is a logical progression in his political career, and he's not concerned that rival and Assembly member Nicole Parra (D-Hanford) is also interested in the race.

Rubio, who unseated Parra's father to get onto the board of supervisors, said he also believes he'd have the backing of current 16th District Senator Dean Florez (D-Shafter), whom he called his political mentor.

Read More >
There have been 28 comments posted in response to this story.
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 15:12

Parra and Rubio could be in hot 2010 state Senate race

By Ben van der Meer, PolitickerCA.com Senior Reporter

Although 2008's hot legislative races haven't been decided yet, 2010 could see some fireworks in a state Senate race in Kern County.

According to the California Secretary of State's website, both Assemblywoman Nicole Parra (D-Hanford) and Kern County Supervisor Michael Rubio, a Democrat, have taken out papers to run for the 16th state Senate seat held currently by state Sen. Dean Florez (D-Shafter).

Florez, whose mother is running for the termed-out seat held by Parra, is himself termed out in 2010.

There have been 45 comments posted in response to this story.