California State Senator Abel Maldonado has been serving under a temporary 90-day appointment to the Lieutenant Governor’s post while Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been working to ensure he gets the approval of the Legislature to keep the job for the remainder of the term.  In a vote of the California State Assembly today, Senator Maldonado missed the majority required for approval by 4 votes.  In a 37-35 decision, the Assembly failed to get a majority to support the Central Coast Legislator for the permanent position.

Abel Maldonado’s nomination has been quite controversial.  After casting the deciding vote in February 2009 for the largest state tax increase in United States history, Abel Maldonado was rewarded by receiving the Governor’s appointment to the 2nd highest post in the state, much to the chagrin of the powers at be in the California Republican Party, who see Maldonado’s vote for taxes as a betrayal.  Others have taken it even further.  For a brief time, Abel was the subject of a recall effort that never gained any traction.

So what will Governor Schwarzenegger do now that his appointee has lost his chance at getting the Lieutenant Governor seat?  The word on the street is that Governor Schwarzenegger will re-appoint Senator Maldonado to another 90-day temporary appointment while he drums up support for another shot at the confirmation.  Another opinion is that without a majority (41 votes) in the Assembly casting ‘no’ votes, Maldonado recieves the appointment.