SACRAMENTO, May 18 (UPI) -- California Democrats want a change in the state's recall process that, were it law in 2003, could have prevented the party from losing the governorship.
On a near party-line vote, the state Assembly has approved a bill that would cancel a recall election if the targeted official resigned from office before the issue qualified for the ballot.
Had the provision been in place last year, the Democrats would have retained control of the California governorship if Gov. Gray Davis resigned from office once it was clear enough signatures had been collected for the recall to qualify for the ballot but before an official announcement had been made.
Under the terms of the proposed change, Democrat Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante would have been elevated to the governorship if Davis cut off the recall by leaving office voluntarily.
The Assembly approved the measure Monday by a vote of 46 to 33, with all the Republicans and one Democrat voting against it. It now goes to the California Senate for debate.
