sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=29225 -> www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=29225
Central Valley Lawmaker Kicked Out of State Capitol Sacramento -- Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, wasn't recalled, but this morning she was told to vacate her four-room corner office suite on the fifth floor of the state Capitol by 4 pm and relocate to a much smaller space at a state building across the street. Assemblywoman Nicole Parra speaks at the California Latino Water Coalition rally outside the state Capitol on April 23, 2008. Assemblywoman Nicole Parra speaks at the California Latino Water Coalition rally outside the state Capitol on April 23, 2008.
voting "yes" on the Assembly Democrats' version of the state budget. After a nearly five-hour debate on Sunday, the proposed budget vote came down to a 45-30 margin, nine shy of the required two-thirds majority. Every Democrat on the floor of the Assembly voted "yes," but Parra, who didn't vote at all. That prompted Bass to move Parra's office to a building across the street from the state Capitol, making the Central Valley legislator the only lawmaker to not have an office inside the Capitol. Assembly Speaker Karen Bass talks to reporters after being elected in February to become the leader of the lower house of the Legislature Steve Yeater/AP Assembly Speaker Karen Bass talks to reporters after being elected in February to become the leader of the lower house of the Legislature Parra, whose district is in the heart of California's agriculture country, said she had made it clear to the speaker that she would not vote for the budget unless there was a water bond deal to fix the state's ailing water infrastructure. "For me, this is protecting and fighting for my district, the future of Central Valley and I knew that there would be a price to be paid," Parra said just minutes after she was informed of her new digs across the street. And every two years, I have asked people in my district to vote for me. And I ask Republicans, Independents and Decline to States to vote for me, and so, to be pigeon-holed to only support Democrats ... A spokesman for Bass declined comment, but Assemblywoman Patty Berg, D-Eureka, part of the Assembly Democratic caucus leadership team, defended the speaker's action. "There are two things you do when you're in the majority party in this Assembly. One is vote on your leader, and two is vote on the budget because the budget has been negotiated amongst Democrats and represents the majority's negotiated budget," Berg said. "And three, we have spent millions of dollars ensuring that Nicole comes back three times in a row (to the Assembly and) to our caucus." Parra, who is termed out later this year, has been a controversial figure within the Democratic Party in recent months when she refused to endorse a Democratic candidate to replace her. That candidate also happens to be the mother of state Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter (Kern County), her political arch-rival. That prompted Democrats in her district demanding her to change her party affiliation. "It's been a very tough year, but again I believe that I am sent to represent my district," Parra said.
Post Comment Comments Typical politics by another political hack, Karen Bass! Posted By: bng156 | August 18 2008 at 02:47 PM It could be worse... Posted By: wakeupalive | August 18 2008 at 03:42 PM Aaah, typical female cattiness. One more reason why females should not be assigned positions of import. Fortunately, I don't reside in "the land of fruits and nuts"! Posted By: Ronski | August 18 2008 at 03:54 PM SFGate needs to remove that last comment by ronski. Posted By: VivaSwisher | August 18 2008 at 03:59 PM This is beautiful treatment to Nicole. She should have been denied her breakfast, lunch and dinner. GOP are united to destroy the state and this lady is voting for special interest. Posted By: dressypink | August 18 2008 at 04:00 PM SFGate needs to remove that last comment by dressypink. whine, whine, whine - if ya can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen. Posted By: Ronski | August 18 2008 at 04:18 PM We are indeed fortunate that Ronski is not in close proximity. A small blessing, true, but a satisfactory as a good wipe. which makes me wonder why an "outsider" like Ronski is hanging about on SF blogs filled with 'fruits and nuts'. I'm sure the guys at the bowling alley will love to hear all the juicy details. Posted By: TooSense | August 18 2008 at 04:27 PM Parra got what she deserved. Since when is another shill for dams and corporate ag a hero? Posted By: littlepal | August 18 2008 at 04:39 PM Kudos to the reporter who wrote this story. We need more info like this, exposing the strong-arm tactics of the political machines in Sacramento. We elect representatives to go to Sacramento and vote their minds, not to be bossed around by party honchos. Posted By: TheBabbler | August 18 2008 at 04:40 PM Ronski, if it will make you happy, let's send Ms Nicole to go stand in the corner till we close the budget shortfall. There is a million and one problems in CA needing funding, Nicols vote against the budget is more to embarrase the DEMS and not to get the water bond. Posted By: dressypink | August 18 2008 at 06:23 PM I'll bet Ronski thinks the kitchen is where the wimmen should stay. Posted By: dsgonzale6 | August 18 2008 at 06:35 PM Power corrupts. Perhaps she's serving her next employers interest as opposed to supporting the Dem's budget. She ought to lose her office and any committee she's on! The Republicans have the budget hijacked and Parra (who supports a Republican to run for her seat) thinks she can hijack this as well. Time to pass majority vote as opposed to 2/3 for the State Budget. Posted By: primarywatcher | August 18 2008 at 08:14 PM Is it just me or does this sound a tad bit childish (grade school clique)? Posted By: ferrethead | August 18 2008 at 11:04 PM This isn't rocket science... if you look at the pictures above, you'll notice that Parra and her people are much smaller than Bass and her's. Why must everything be politicized on the politics blog? Posted By: TooSense | August 19 2008 at 10:58 AM Post a Comment To protect our readers from malicious comments SFGate asks that you login or register to post a comment.
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