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Fri 6/17/2011 
'Sopranos' Comparison Causes Fight On California Assembly Floor 

Republican Assemblyman Don Wagner in expressing his objection to including Community Redevelopment Agency Money in the Budget,(that I happens to agree with him, that  it is Give Aways to Real Estate Developers) used unnecessary and unhelpful language in strangely comparing the Budget process as  a "Tony Soprano" intimidation technique. 

When  Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (Italian American) demanded an apology, Wagner compounded and magnified his mistake by  retorting, "I will apologize to any Italian-Americans who are not in the Mafia and engaged in insurance scams." 

 Assemblymen Warren Furutani ( a fourth-generation Japanese American) and Assemblymen Mike Gatto (Italian American)  then approached and confronted Wagner. They had to be separated by surrounding representatives. 

John Myers of KQED  tweeted re Gatto statement : Wagner "implied..only a small subset of Italian-Americans, who are 'not in the Mafia & not involved in insurance fraud " 

Our Thanks to Anthony Portantino. Mike Gatto, and particularly Warren Furutani (who rises in defense whatever ethnicity is slurred) 

Former Mayor of La Canada Flintridge State Assemblyman Anthony Portantino has previously announced his intentions to run for United States House of Representatives. The news has gathered national attention, and has potential opponents like entrenched incumbent Rep. David Dreier worried.

Anthony Portantino; Capitol Office:State Capitol; P.O. Box 942849; Sacramento, CA 94249-0044;Tel: (916) 319-2044;Fax: (916) 319-2144 District Office: 215 N. Marengo Ave, Ste 115; Pasadena, CA 9110; Home: (818) 952-3432; Tel: (626) 577-9944; Fax: (626) 577-2868

Mike Gatto: Capitol Office:State Capitol;P.O. Box 942849; Sacramento, CA 94249-0043;Tel: (916) 319-2043; Fax: (916) 319-2143            District Office:300 East Magnolia Boulevard; Suite 504; Burbank, CA 91502; Tel: (818) 558-3043; Fax: (818) 558-3042

Warren Furitani Capitol Office:State Capitol; P.O. Box 942849; Sacramento, CA 94249-0055; Tel: (916) 319-2055; Fax: (916) 319-2155      District Office:4201 Long Beach Blvd; Suite 327;Long Beach, CA 90807;Tel: (562) 989-2919;Fax: (562) 989-5494

Donald P. Wagner: State Capitol Office,Room 4153; Sacramento, CA 95814;  (P) (916) 319-2070  (F) (916) 319-2170
District Office: 3 Park Plaza, Suite 150; Irvine, CA 92614 are (P) (949) 863-7070    (F) (949) 863-9337



'Sopranos' Comparison Causes Fight To Break Out On Assembly Floor
Huffington Post ; June 16, 2011 

Life imitated art on the Assembly floor Wednesday when Assemblyman Don Wagner (R-Irvine) compared line items in the Democrats' budget plan to something in HBO's mafia show "Sopranos."

It all began when Wagner expressed his opposition to community redevelopment agencies -- which he called "fantasy budgets... and unicorns." At that point, he compared the Democrats' budget plan to a "Tony Soprano" intimidation technique. "Let's not buy the insurance policy that Tony Soprano is selling us," Wagner asserted. 

Quickly after Wagner stepped away from the microphone, Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Ca?ada Flintridge) rose to demand an apology: "As a proud Italian American, I resent that and I would respectfully ask the commenter to make an apology to Italian Americans in California." 

To this Wagner retorted, "I will apologize to any Italian-Americans who are not in the Mafia and engaged in insurance scams." After this, a rumble of commotion broke out in the chamber as Assemblyman Warren Furutani (D-Gardena) approached and confronted Wagner. They had to be separated by surrounding representatives. 

VIDEO : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/16/
sopranos-comparison-fight_n_878232.html

http://street-hassle.blogspot.com/2011/
06/rumble-in-assembly.html 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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