California Senate will vote to suspend 3 Democrats

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

California Senate will vote to suspend 3 Democrats

AP foreign, Friday March 28 2014

DON THOMPSON

Associated Press= SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Democratically controlled California Senate will vote on whether to suspend three Democrats who face criminal charges, after the latest lawmaker to be hauled into court refused to step down, its leader said Friday.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg told reporters that he planned to act after Sen. Leland Yee of San Francisco was indicted this week on federal charges that included accepting bribes and coordinating an international gun-running operation.

Senate spokesman Rhys Williams said Steinberg also will move to suspend Democratic senators Ron Calderon and Rod Wright, both from the Los Angeles area. Calderon also faces federal corruption charges, while Wright was convicted of voter fraud and perjury.

All three will retain their annual base pay of $95,291 even if suspended, but Steinberg also plans to seek a constitutional amendment on Friday that will deny pay to suspended lawmakers. The state Constitution currently says lawmakers can lose their pay only if they are expelled or resign.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/feedarticle/11268283

[FarCenter]

1. If Wright is already convicted, why isn't he expelled?

[tofuandbeer]

2. It seems strange to me that so many Democratic senators are being charged.

I always think something's Koch'ing when something like this happens.
They want their fracking to be unhindered.