text: 710 Study San Rafael Neighborhood Posts: Is Chris Holden the Best State Assembly Majority Whip that Money Can Buy?
  http://sierramadretattler.blogspot.com/2013/09/is-chris-holden-best-state-assembly.html
  "Is $199,000 enough?"
  You would think that a legislator would need to get at least one term in the California State Assembly under his belt before assuming so senior post as State Assembly Majority Whip. As the sixth ranking power player in our de facto one party State Assembly, someone who works directly with the Speaker of the Assembly in helping to create and enact important legislation on behalf of the people of California, it really is quite a plum position.
  Most folks would naturally assume that an office as powerful as that would only be given to someone with years of hard earned experience and seniority, right?
  Yet Chris Holden, freshman Assemblyman from our very own 41st Assembly District, was given the prestigious and very senior position of State Assembly Majority Whip (link) only weeks after being elected to the Assembly for the very first time. And had a few other rather influential assignments thrown his way as well. Here is how the happy news is celebrated in a press release from Chris's very own official State Assembly website (link):
  So how did Chris manage to get all of that? The press release doesn't actually say. But according to the Center for Investigative Reporting (link), newly elected freshman Assemblyman Chris Holden could have very well paid Speaker John Perez $199,000 in specially targeted campaign donations in order to obtain his prestigious and influential positions.
  It seems that this is how things get done in our vastly corrupt State Assembly.
  In an article titled "California speaker gives Assembly's juiciest jobs to biggest fundraisers," here is how the Center for Investigative Reporting describes this, er, "process:"
  Without that money Chris Holden could have been just another rank and file freshman backbencher with little of value to sell. Access costs money and money is power in Sacramento.
  Who helped Holden buy his influence in Sacramento? Thanks to Follow the Money.org, that information is only one click away (link). Just to whet your appetite, Sacramento made man Holden has received over $1,000,000 in campaign donations, most of it from influence hungry organizations. It really is quite a roster.