Why California Democrats Rarely Stray in Sacramento: The Case of Rudy Salas

There is little independence for elected officials in Sacramento.

Especially if you are a member of the majority.

Republicans often allow individual members independence.

Democratic members, however, must do what they are told by the leadership and the corrupt interests running the state capital, not what the individual voters want.

It's truly shameful.

Once in a while a Democrat will NOT do what he is told ... and this is what happens:

Assembly Democrat stripped of committee chairmanship aftervoting against gas tax increase (from the Sacramento Bee)

Nearly two weeks after breaking with fellow Democrats to vote against a bill raising California fuel taxes, Assemblyman Rudy Salas of Bakersfield has lost the chairmanship of a prime legislative committee.

On Monday, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon announced that he had removed Salas from his position heading the politically lucrative Assembly Business and Professions Committee, which handles consumer regulations, occupational licensing and product labeling bills.

Something else worth nothing.

The same Speaker also has the power to remove minority party members from key committees.

It should come as no surprise, then, that there is so much cowardice in Sacramento.

Assemblyman Evan Low, D-Campbell, will take over as the committee chair, while Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin, D-Thousand Oaks, will get Salas’ vacancy. Salas was moved to the Assembly Rules Committee, which assigns bills to relevant policy committees and makes other decisions to administer the house.

HA HA! More members in Sacrmento should stand up to the Speaker, though. People claim that Washington is dysfunctional, but the truth is members are flexing their muscles and not allowing intra-party caucus politics to determine their votes on issues.

Rendon, who called Salas “a very good friend of mine, a longtime friend of mine, a very valuable member of our caucus,” did not directly address the connection between Salas’ vote and the committee changes.

Of course he wouldn't! No one ever connects the dots for the public. Ever. Another example of this? That the fas tax hike is not really for the roads, but for the welfare class that votes for a living.

“We’ve had a lot of success and I wanted to make sure we continue to have success,” Rendon said. “Obviously, it’s my prerogative to make changes from time to time.”

Discussing his vote publicly for the first time, Salas said in an interview that he opposed SB 1 because of a campaign promise that he would not support any new taxes unless they went before voters for approval.

A California Democratic assemblyman who keeps a campaign promise? I am shocked. Shocked I tell you!

Punishment is not uncommon for legislators who cross their party leadership.

Here we go ...

Former Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, was famously booted to an office across the street from the Capitol after abstaining on a budget vote in 2008. In 2011, then-Assemblyman Anthony Portantino of La Cañada Flintridge accused the then-speaker of slashing his office funding for being the lone Democratic holdout on the budget.

Portantino fought back and won.

Final Reflection

Now you see what Sacramento politicians don't do what the voters want.

Period.