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Nunez Looking Out For Nunez

"In 2006, when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state legislature decided to move forward with the infrastructure bonds, all sides agreed to take partisan politics out of the process in order to 'make good on [their] commitment to the people of California to give them the opportunity to invest in a faster commute, better access to public transit and safer roads.'

"But as Republicans remain committed to ensuring the state's resources are utilized in an efficient manner, Speaker Núñez' use of intimidation to dictate how and where taxpayer dollars should be spent is just more politics as usual that Californians have grown to despise."

Hector M. Barajas, Press Secretary, California Republican Party

THREATENING TO WITHHOLD FUNDS IF PERSONAL PROJECTS ARE NOT EARMARKED
"After emerging from a morning meeting with Villaraigosa and other Los Angeles officials, commission Vice Chairman James Ghielmetti said he wanted to revisit the recommendation on the 405 and other Los Angeles County projects.  'It leaves me with a lot of questions of our staff,' Ghielmetti said. 'Do I think the 405 is needed? Yes. Do I think it should go forward soon? Yes.'  Yet even as some transportation officials appeared to soften their position on the 405, Núñez kept up the pressure.  During a Capitol news conference, he said the Assembly 'would not appropriate funds that do not adequately address California's traffic congestion problem.'" (Duke Helfand, "L.A. Officials Press State For Funds to Widen 405 Freeway," Los Angeles Times, 2/21/07)
 

THE NÚÑEZ DOUBLE TALK: "NONPOLITICAL" BUT MUST "FOLLOW THE USUAL FORMULAS"
"Núñez said yesterday that the distribution of the bond money must be 'nonpolitical.' At the same time, he said, the allocation has to be fair and follow the usual formulas that have traditionally given more populous Southern California 60 percent of transportation funds and Northern California 40 percent." (Ed Mendel, "Sanders, Núñez Say South State Gets Shortchanged," Union Tribune, 2/21/07)
 

NÚÑEZ STATEMENT DOES NOT READ: "MAKING GOOD ON THE COMMITMENT TO FABIAN NÚÑEZ," BUT RATHER TO THE "PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA"
"Today we make good on our commitment to the people of California to give them the opportunity to invest in a faster commute, better access to public transit and safer roads. This $20 billion transportation bond is the result of a tremendous bipartisan effort that we should all be proud of. Democrats and Republicans in the legislature rolled up there sleeves and did the hard work Californians expect of them." (Fabian Núñez, "Speaker's Statement On Placing Transportation Bond On November Ballot," Press Release- 5/16/06, Accessed 2/21/06)
 

NUNEZ: "WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THAT DONE, WE'LL DO"
"Democratic State Senate Pro Tem Don Perata of Oakland and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez of Los Angeles appeared at Schwarzenegger's side Monday in Oakland and pledged continuing support for the bond issue to finance schools, roads, bridges, levee repairs and affordable housing.  The two Democratic leaders, joined by Senate Republican leader Dick Ackerman of Tustin (Orange County) and GOP Assembly leader George Plescia of San Diego, accompanied Schwarzenegger at several stops across the state to push the infrastructure deal, calling it historic and important to the future of California.  'Whatever it takes to get that done, we'll do,' Núñez said, asked if Democrats would campaign with Schwarzenegger through the fall. 'Absolutely, we'll be campaigning together ... whatever (is) the most effective message to the voters, that's the message we're driving home.'  Núñez called the bond proposal 'this historic infrastructure package,' adding 'we're all going to work together that we get the message out, and we raise the funds to communicate with voters.'   (Carla Marinucci, "2 Top Dems Pledge to Campaign With Governor For Bonds," San Francisco Chronicle, 5/9/06)
 

PUTTING CALIFORNIANS FIRST, LEGISLATORS REACH MILESTONE IN BIPARTISAN ACCOMPLISHMENT"
"Today is a good day for California,' Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, told reporters. 'I believe that as we look forward to what's to come, (the) ... ideological differences that continue to tear us apart are going to be a thing of the past in Sacramento.' 'It's a fabulous piece of work,' said state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland. 'It would appear that we've made a major down payment on 40 years of neglect in California's infrastructure.'" (Andy Furillo and Jim Sanders, "Putting Aside Partisanship," Sacramento Bee, 5/6/06)

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