Sen. Abel Maldonado is set to take another step toward becoming lieutenant governor Monday, when he will make the case for his confirmation before the Assembly Rules Committee.
The hearing is scheduled to begin after the Assembly's noon floor session, according to the Assembly Daily File.
The Santa Maria Republican, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's pick to fill the remainder of now-Democratic Rep. John Garamendi's term, tweeted the news this afternoon, saying he was "looking forward to a bipartisan discussion."
The Senate Rules Committee voted 4-0 to recommend Maldonado's confirmation earlier this week, with Maldonado's rival for the June lieutenant governor primary, Republican Sen. Sam Aanestad, abstaining from the vote.
Assuming Maldonado also gets the Assembly committee's OK, he still needs to clear floor votes in both houses. The Legislature has through Feb. 21 to approve or reject his nomination. If legislators do not act by that time, he automatically assumes the post.
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and others have urged colleagues to green-light Maldonado's nomination in the spirit of bipartisanship, but some Assembly members have signaled that the lower house could prove to be a tough hurdle for Maldonado.
"It's not in any way clear whether he would make it out of the Assembly. It seems like it's going to be a tough row for the senator to hoe over here," Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico said earlier this week.
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