Central Valley Democrat Nicole Para  was booted from her office because she refused to vote for the Democrat budget last night.

The Sacramento Bee is reporting:

Parra booted from office - and the Capitol

By Shane Goldmacher - sgoldmacher@sacbee.com
Published 12:46 pm PDT Monday, August 18, 2008

 

In the latest episode of Capitol punishment, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass tossed Assemblywoman Nicole Parra from her office on Monday morning after the Central Valley Democrat failed to vote for the budget on Sunday.

In a twist, Parra hasn't been reassigned to more cramped quarters in the Capitol itself - but booted straight across the street to the Legislative Office Building. She will be the only member of the Legislature whose office is not housed in the Capitol.

"I knew going in Sunday that if I didn't support the budget, something was going to happen," Parra, D-Hanford, said in an interview shortly after receiving the news. The budget, now 49 days late, failed 45-30, with 54 votes needed for passage.

The state Assembly's chief administrative officer informed Parra of the change shortly before noon and gave her staff until late afternoon to clear out of the office, she said.

"Boxes have been delivered," said Parra, who added that she was unhappy she would be unable to pack her "personal stuff" because the Assembly was in session and she was on the floor.

Her staff will be divided between her new office and a side office on the fifth floor of the Capitol.

Parra told Speaker Bass in a letter at the end of July that she would not support a budget until a "solution to the Central Valley's water supply" - in the form of a water bond - was passed by the Assembly.

She said Monday she stood by her decision - despite the consequences.

"Is it worth it? Yes," Parra said.

"If there's no future for water, then let's pave over the Central Valley and let's import all our food," she added.

The punishment is the first meted out by Bass, a Los Angeles Democrat, since she assumed the speakership earlier this year.

Moving lawmakers who go against leadership into small offices has a long tradition in the Capitol.

In 2007, Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, an outspoken Orange County Republican, was moved to the smallest office in the Capitol after angering former Speaker Fabian Nunez.

Spitzer quickly came to Parra's defense on Monday. "I love Nicole Parra," he said, throwing his arm around the Hanford Democrat in front of a TV camera.

He said the move by Bass showed "a complete lack of maturity."

Parra admitted that though she expected punishment for her non-vote Sunday she was "kind of shocked it would be across the street."

"Even Todd Sptizer got an office in the Capitol," she quipped.