Just before state Sen. Roy Ashburn cast the vote that would subject him to a recall drive and cloud his political future, he recalled his hero, Ronald Reagan. He told of Reagan's painful decisions as California governor to twice abandon a no-taxes pledge.

Then the Bakersfield Republican, who had promised never to raise taxes, voted for a state budget deal that included $12.8 billion in new taxes.

"Ronald Reagan would vote 'yes,' " he argued.

But invoking the GOP icon hasn't spared Ashburn and the "Republican Six" from the wrath of constituents.

As California voters go to the polls May 19 to decide on initiatives crucial to the budget deal, most of the half-dozen GOP lawmakers who voted with Democrats and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger endure colleagues' scorn or furious calls from talk radio listeners. Two face recall bids.

They are feeling the heat of an angry, fractured state Republican Party. They embody political arguments over the costs of yielding to compromises of governance or refusing to surrender no matter what.

Ashburn, recently served recall papers as he showed up to host his talk show on KERN Radio 1180-AM, was getting an earful as he made his case to residents in his district.

A typical exchange was with Ed from Bakersfield:

Ed: "You had a pretty good career … and you threw it all away. You showed yourself for the slime-ball politician that you are."

Ashburn: "I put the interests of the people of California first, and I looked hard into the record of Ronald Reagan."

Ed: "Senator, don't even refer to Ronald Reagan. You're nowhere in the same category."

Ashburn: "We're on our way to a lively discussion."

Lively indeed.

On Thursday, Mike Villines of Clovis stepped down as Assembly Republican leader, saying the budget he helped negotiate has stoked GOP anger and the fearful question, "Will Mike do taxes again?"

In February, Republican colleagues stripped Sen. Dave Cogdill of Modesto of his leadership post.

"No one is offering any alternatives," Cogdill protested Tuesday on the radio show of former Fresno Mayor Alan Autry. "They're just throwing rocks."

At February's state GOP convention, angry delegates who banned funding for campaign mailers for the Republican Six aimed particular ire at Abel Maldonado. The Santa Maria senator won concessions – including a controversial nonpartisan primary plan to be placed on the ballot in 2010 – for his vote.

"He sold his vote for something almost all Republicans hate," said GOP consultant Dave Gilliard. "He is pretty much persona non grata."

Only Republican Assemblyman Roger Niello, whose Fair Oaks district includes numerous state workers, escaped intense public vilification.

"These guys showed a lot of political courage," said Aaron McLear, spokesman for GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who showed up at a fundraiser to help GOP Assemblyman Anthony Adams of Hesperia raise money to ward off a recall effort. "They understood this could cost them their careers. But they cast votes on what was best for California."

The price for Adams was to be greeted by a recall notice presented by Orange County attorney Michael Schroeder, a former head of the California Republican Party.

"On behalf of the taxpayers of the 59th District, let the games begin," Schroeder told the two-term assemblyman.

Schroeder, who doesn't live in Adams' district, helped orchestrate successful 1995 recalls of Republican Assembly Speaker Doris Allen and GOP Assemblyman Paul Horcher in a backlash over their dealings with Democrat Willie Brown.

Schroeder said Adams' recall proponents have banked $86,000 – including his own $5,000 donation and $5,000 from Rep. Tom McClintock – toward $125,000 needed to fund signature gathering. Former Assemblyman and U.S. Senate candidate Richard Mountjoy has said he will run if the Adams recall effort qualifies with 35,825 valid voter signatures by Oct. 13.

"The Republican Party, if it's not a party of less taxes and smaller government, isn't a party at all," Schroeder said. "And Anthony Adams cynically lied to voters. He knew if he didn't make an unequivocal (no) tax pledge in that heavily Republican district, he would never have been elected. And he violated his oath."

Call Peter Hecht, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5539.