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The Democrat "Lockout" On Tolerance

"The lock out of three Democrat senators by Senate Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland), for attending a fundraiser in support of moderate business friendly Democrats, seems to have crossed the Democrat 'Line of Tolerance,' they so often like to preach.

"The 'pragmatic' senate leader, who once stated, 'Our representative democracy is based upon the premise that all qualified individuals have a fair opportunity to represent their communities in elected offices,' seems to have forgotten that with 33 million Californians, representation of our state's communities requires diversity of opinions and ideas, even within his own party.

"The Democrat leadership needs to stop their fictitious bipartisan rhetoric they perform 'under the bright lights and cameras' and start working on the pressing issues facing California.  It is time that Democrats begin doing their job as the majority party: Stop neglecting California's problems before they become crises.

"Solving California's pressing problems requires the Democrat leadership to include in the process Republicans, as well as those members of the Democrat party who are willing to protect California jobs, while easing the tax burden on our working and middle-class Californians."  

Hector M. Barajas, Communications Director, California Republican Party
 

All Qualified Individuals Should Represent Their Communities

"Our representative democracy is based upon the premise that all qualified individuals have a fair opportunity to represent their communities in elected offices." (Don Perata, "Campaign Finance Reform," Senator Don Perata- 4/20/06, Accessed: 3/12/07)

Sen. Perata Urges Independence And Diversity

"'We're concerned about the lack of attention to independence and diversity,' said Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, about Schwarzenegger's choice of using local voting officials. 'We need to seriously explore all options to make sure this process of drawing district lines is non-partisan and beyond reproach.'" (Greg Lucas, "Governor Proposes A Citizen Panel For Redistricting," San Francisco Chronicle, 12/6/06)

"I Am A Lot More Pragmatic Than Anyone Else In The Race"

"'If people are going to look at somebody to continually look at opportunities to make democratic principles palatable for future problems, that's (Aroner's) strength,' said the 52-year-old Perata, a lifelong resident of the city of Alameda. 'I think I'm a lot more pragmatic than anyone else in the race.'" (Rick DelVecchio, "Perata Runs Hard For State Senate," San Francisco Chronicle, 8/28/98)

When The "I" In Team Was Still Missing

"You also will see Democratic Assembly members and senators together as a team to negotiate with our Republican colleges and the governor.  We are not going up against the governor - we want to work with him to ensure a positive atmosphere in the Capitol." (Don Perata and Fabian Nùñez, "Democrats' Goals In The Legislature," San Diego Tribune, 12/10/04)

• "Last year, we accomplished something pretty remarkable for a bunch of politicians: We stopped telling everyone else how to do our jobs and instead we did ours....  The work of government does not take place once a year under the bright lights and cameras.  Like your job, lawmakers must work day after day after day to get results." (Don Perata, "Democratic Response To Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's State Of The State Address, Speaker Fabian Nùñez Press Release- 1/9/07, Accessed: 3/12/07)