Portantino Claims He Was Punished for His Vote

Assemblyman Anthony Portantino said Monday that he is being punished for voting "no" on last month's budget by having his office expenses targeted by state Democratic leaders.

Portantinom, one of Monrovia's two representatives in the Assembly, received a letter on Friday from Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, Chair of the Rules Committee (letter can be viewed at right), claiming his office budget is projected to run a deficit of more than $67,000 by the end of the year.

Skinner informed Portantino that he must provide a spending plan by July 18, and a failure to do so could result in a range of penalties ranging from a ban on his using the Assembly mail room to the far more serious consequence of his office staff being put on unpaid leave.

Portantino wrote in a press release that he believes the action is entirely do to his opposition to the Democratic-endorsed state budget passed two weeks ago.

"This bizarre and unprecedented action is clearly intended to punish me for my vote and to discourage other Assembly Members from performing their duties in a conscientious manner," Portantino wrote.  His full response to Skinner can also be viewed on the right.

Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz weighed in on the controversy Monday, firmly supporting Portantino in a message on her Facebook page.

"This is wrong on so many levels," she wrote. "Assembly Member Portantino supported his cities, voted according to his principles and this type of retaliation has no place in a democracy!"

Portatino laid out his reasons for voting against the budget as follows:

• My strong belief in the importance of public education in California and the folly of further and deeper cuts to higher education in our State.

• My opposition to the abrupt elimination of Redevelopment Agencies, which are essential tools used by cities in the San Gabriel Valley to create economic development, jobs and housing.

• My concern, shared by the Los Angeles District Attorney, my local County Supervisor and many in law enforcement, that the misguided prison realignment plan will increase crime on our streets and in our neighborhoods and ultimately cost the State more money.

• My opposition to the hastily drafted AB 114 School Finance bill, which, along with the Budget, contains triggered cuts to education that may cause the elimination of a full week of school and may wreak havoc on the finances of our local school districts. (AB 114 was not available for proper public review and has since been the subject of negative editorials in the Los Angeles Times and other newspapers throughout California).

• My concern over the optimistic revenue projections.

Staff Writer Nathan McIntire contributed to this story.