Hours after Gov. Jerry Brown roiled majority Democrats with his budget veto, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg made public his plans to halt consideration of the governor's appointees "for an indefinite period of time."
Members of the Senate Rules Committee were informed via email yesterday that gubernatorial appointees requiring Senate confirmation will not be considered by the committee or put up for a floor vote until further notice.
"The Rules Committee will not be meeting to consider any Governor's appointments for an indefinite period of time per the Pro Tem. In addition, no action will be taken on appointees pending on the floor during this time," the email reads.
When asked why Steinberg decided to hold off on confirmation of Brown's appointees, spokesman Nathan Barankin said, "We're focused on the budget right now."
Gubernatorial appointees in need of Senate confirmation must be approved within one year of their nomination in order to retain their posts for the full term. The only Brown appointee currently awaiting a full Senate vote is David Maxwell-Jolly, the governor's pick for undersecretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, according to Steinberg's office. Several dozen people nominated by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger who still need to be considered by either the committee or the full house face confirmation deadlines this summer.
Editor's note: An update on the number of appointees pending was added to this post at 2:30 p.m.
PHOTO CREDIT: Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, speaks at the Capitol Bureau on Jan. 20, 2011. Hector Amezcua, Sacramento Bee.
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