Karen Bass is new Speaker

Well, the Speaker election was supposed to be March 11, but Karen Bass and Fabian Nunez informed various and sundry folks, including CR, that she had amassed letters from 33 of the 48 Democrats supporting her Speakership candidacy. This represents a victory for Nunez, who believes that after Bass terms out in 2010, the way will be clear for his protege Kevin de Leon to succeed Bass. Bass is currently Assembly Majority Leader whose legislative passion has been foster care issues. She is very even tempered and well liked by her colleagues -- a fact made manifest by the fact that she collected 33 letters of support. Capitol insiders are hopeful that her well respected chief of staff, Nolice Edwards, will be making the move as Speaker's chief of staff, as well.