Don't expect to see the "GOP 5" in full force at this weekend's California Republican Party convention.
Just one of the five Republican senators who attempted to strike a budget deal with Gov. Jerry Brown in recent weeks has confirmed that he is planning to attend the three-day gathering of GOP officials and delegates.
Sen. Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo, has already make the trek today to the convention venue across the street from the Capitol, where he attended a heated meeting of the CRP Rules Committee. He plans to attend convention events at the Hyatt tomorrow as well, his spokeswoman said.
Sens. Bill Emmerson, R-Hemet, and Tom Harman, R-Huntington Beach, will not attend the convention. Emmerson is out of town for the wedding of a family friend and Harman had prior commitments in his district, according to their respective spokespersons.
A spokeswoman for Sen Anthony Cannella said she could not confirm whether the Ceres Republican will make an appearance, saying his schedule is still up in the air. The office of Sen. Tom Berryhill, R-Oakdale, did not return a request for comment on his plans.
The members, who had proposed broad reforms as possible concessions for voting to put Brown's proposed tax extensions on the ballot, had all come under fire from conservative and anti-tax activists as the upcoming party gathering loomed over this week's budget votes. Adding fuel to the anti-tax sentiment: Celeste Greig, president of the conservative California Republican Assembly, introduced a resolution to condemn as "traitorous" any Republican who votes for tax extensions or increases.
But CRP Chairman Ron Nehring commended the five senators at a press conference, saying they called "Jerry Brown's bluff" by not committing to tax votes after the reform proposals they put forward were rejected by the governor.
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