Sen. Abel Maldonado needs to find 41 votes in the Assembly to win confirmation to the lieutenant governor post.
But the Santa Maria Republican indicated today that he has one vote that matters -- Speaker John A. Pérez.
"Speaker Pérez has mentioned to me he will be voting for me tomorrow on the floor," Maldonado told reporters after the Assembly Rules Committee moved to send his nomination to the floor. "When the speaker of the California Assembly says to you that he intends to vote for you and go get your votes, I think that's great news. It's a step in the right direction and I'm very, very optimistic."
Pérez, who voted "no" on Maldonado's first failed lieutenant governor nomination, didn't hold back in criticizing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for renominating Maldonado.
He later softened his language, saying he was "open" to voting yes.
Pérez stopped briefly in Maldonado's 11 a.m. confirmation hearing, but did not make any statements for or against the nominee. He was not immediately available to comment on his vote plans.
After more than an hour of questions on everything from education cuts to taxing swap meets, the Rules Committee voted to send Maldonado's nomination to the floor. But members did not take the step of recommending a "yes" vote.
In his first go-round as lieutenant governor nominee, Maldonado fell four votes short of the 41 needed to clear the Assembly. He said he plans to continue working members for support this afternoon.
Several members of the Rules Committee who voted "no" in the first floor vote, including Chairwoman Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, and Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña, D-San Diego, said they were not yet persuaded to change their position.
But Maldonado said he believes the tide has turned in his favor.
"I think no one was there hard, saying, 'Well I'm going to vote no. No, no, no.' Last time was a different hearing," he said. "I felt the difference; there was more tension last time."
The Assembly is expected to take up the confirmation vote as soon as tomorrow's 9 a.m. floor session. The Senate has not yet indicated when it plans to hold a Rules Committee hearing or a vote. Both houses have until mid-May to confirm or reject the nomination.
VIDEO CREDIT: Hector Amezcua/hamezcua@sacbee.com
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