Nunez Asks Voters to Pay Steep Price for Prop 93Paul Hogarthbyline‚ Jan. 14‚ 2008Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez has one priority this February: pass Proposition 93 so that he can remain Speaker for another six years – even if it means betraying Democratic constituencies. When Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed budget cuts last week, the Governor had at least one good idea: release 22,000 of the state’s non-violent offenders (most of whom are low-income people of color) who are overcrowding our prison system. But while Republicans predictably cried “betrayal,” the big surprise was that Nunez backed them up – saying such a move would “put the public at risk.” Did Nunez do this because the prison guards gave $100,000 to pass Prop 93? If so, it won’t be the first time that Fabian Nunez sold out to advance his career. A while back, the former union organizer allowed the 4 wealthiest Indian tribes in California to pass anti-labor gaming compacts – after they threatened to campaign against Prop 93. As voters consider Prop 93 in February, they should wonder what the price is to keep Nunez in power. |