Machado, facing big challenge, skips key votes

Mike Machado has Excedrin Headache #427

Moderate Democrat Mike Machado usually is on the right side of business. That has made him acceptable in the past to business interests, who have supported his candidacy in past years. But in the last legislative session, Machado had significant difficulty in getting support from the liberal-run Democrat Caucus (recently under the thumb of the Senate's Liberal lion, John Burton) in the State Capitol. When issues of job-killing legislation came before the caucus, Machado's concerns weren't supported, and Machado was told that he would toe the party line. With the caucus running roughshod over his recommendations, Machado has been told to stand firm with the other, far more liberal members of the legislature, opposing business reform initiatives and supporting more of the same liberal garbage that has gotten the state into such precarious financial straits.

Further causing his temples to pound is a tough Senate challenge from Stockton Mayor Gary Podesta. Podesta has managed to turn Stockton around with his pro-economic development agenda. Stockton was only one of two California cities to have positive job growth in 2002. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is supporting Podesta's campaign with an endorsement, and is one of the few candidates for whom he is raising money.

Machado - in an effort to keep his business friends at his side, has chosen to waffle on critical votes in the legislature. In the final hours of the legislative session, when hundreds of bills were going through the legislature, Machado did not cast his vote -- for or against -- many of the controversial issues that were watched closely by business, labor and other groups that might help Machado out with his campaign.

Legislators are sent to Sacramento to cast votes on legislation. They are elected to make the tough decisions. For Machado to duck this responsibility when faced with a tough re-election campaign is a declaration that he he has surrendered his integrity to his party.

And that is good news for Gary Podesta's campaign.