The state Senate Rules Committee voted 4-0 late Wednesday, Feb 3 to approve the governor's appointment of Senator Abel Maldonado, who represents coastal Monterey County, to the lieutenant governor's office.
After an emotional Maldonado told of his immigrant parents who rose from poverty to see their son's nomination to the state's second highest office, Senate President Pro-Tem Darrell Steinberg responded, "What's even more important to me and my colleagues is your view on how to provide the same chance to other people."
As the Senate considers what Steinberg called "terrible cuts" to education and social services proposed by the governor, the committee questioned Maldonado on the state's frayed safety net, university tuition hikes and ideas for shoring up state revenues.
The full Senate must approve Maldonado's nomination, and even if they do, the Assembly could still vote him down.
If Maldonado gets the nod, Assembly Minority Leader Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo) will likely face former Assemblyman John Laird, a Santa Cruz Democrat in a competitive race for his seat in June.
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