California Assembly Rejects Lt. Governor Nominee

SACRAMENTO -The California Assembly has rejected Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s pick for lieutenant governor.

The state Senate voted relatively quickly Thursday morning to confirm Republican state Sen. Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria, but his nomination hit a wall in the Assembly.

Several initial votes failed to generate majority support in the 80-member house before a final vote of 37-35. The Assembly adjourned for the day immediately after the vote.

Despite the rejection, there was confusion about Maldonado’s ultimate fate.

The governor’s office said it believes Maldonado’s nomination would fail only if a majority of the Assembly – or 41 lawmakers – voted to reject it. The Assembly speaker’s office issued a different opinion that said he could not take office.