This week in the majority-Democrat California State Senate, GOP senators succeeded in blocking the confirmation of Community Colleges Board of Governors President Katherine Albiani. The Senate voted along party lines to reject Albiani, the third of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s appointees to the board voted down in the past year by united GOP opposition to the board’s decision to back the Dream Act, which would grant financial aid to undocumented students.
While awaiting Senate confirmation, board members can serve for one year after being nominated by the governor. John W. Koeberer had to leave the board in June after his nomination languished in the Senate for a year. Rose Del Castillo Guilbault had to leave the board in October under the same circumstances.
All three paid the political price for their support of the latest version of the California Dream Act, vetoed by Schwarzenegger last year. That version would have allowed undocumented students to be eligible for certain types of state-funded financial aid. In his veto statement, Schwarzenegger pointed out that undocumented students qualify for in-state tuition under the provisions of the original Dream Act, and providing more aid would exacerbate a state budget deficit, which now hovers around $14.5 billion.
GOP opposition to Albiani’s confirmation exposed a rift between Schwarzenegger and his own party over his cozy relationship with many Democratic legislators, with whom he has crafted a universal health care plan among other pieces of major legislation.
“Governor Schwarzenegger stands behind his appointment of Katherine, and he thanks her for her service,” said Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Rachel Cameron. “It is unfortunate the Senate did not confirm her appointment, and the governor thanks those members that voted for confirmation.”
Senate Republican leader Dick Ackerman said he and his colleagues voted against Albiani solely to protest the Community College Board of Governor’s support for what he called “illegals” at the expense of “law-abiding citizens.” In light of the looming $14.5 billion budget deficit, Ackerman said he and his colleagues will continue to look for ways to curtail the “benefit package” California provides to undocumented residents, which includes in-state tuition.
Supporters of Albiani decry the partisan politics that derailed her confirmation, citing her broad educational administrative experience. Community College League of California President Scott Lay was in the Senate chamber during the vote and called GOP senators’ denial of Albiani’s confirmation “one of the most disgusting” displays of legislative partisanship that “I’ve seen in my 13 years advocating for community colleges.”
