Gomez’s delay in taking oath is criticized
Congressman-elect still hasn’t resigned from state Assembly, irking GOP leader.
WASHINGTON — House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) wants to know why Rep.-elect Jimmy Gomez hasn’t been sworn in, saying the seat’s “elongated vacancy” is “an abdication” of his responsibilities.
Gomez won a special election 21 days ago to replace now-California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, who resigned as Los Angeles’ 34th Congressional District representative in January.
Gomez, a current Democratic state assemblyman, told The Times after the election he would try to delay his Assembly resignation to vote on extending the state’s cap-and-trade program, which requires companies to buy permits to release greenhouse gas.
Negotiations on cap and trade are escalating in Sacramento, and there are rumblings Gov. Jerry Brown would like to be able to count on Gomez’s vote to pass the bill with a twothirds majority before the Legislature leaves July 21.
McCarthy took issue with that in a letter to Gomez, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla.
“If this delay persists due to his prioritization of state legislative matters, congressman-elect Gomez should be honest with the constituents of California’s 34th Congressional District who he was elected to serve and resign from his newly elected seat so they can elect someone ready to serve on Day One,” McCarthy wrote.
Brown wants the deal to pass with a two-thirds majority to help insulate it from legal challenges, and Gomez could be an important vote if legislative leaders can’t get some moderate Democrats on board.
Gomez said Monday he offered to be available for a cap-and-trade vote only until June 15, and had a family conflict this week, but is willing to be sworn in at any other time.
Because Congress leaves Friday for the Fourth of July recess, the soonest Gomez can take office is July 10, but no date for the ceremony has been set.
McCarthy also questioned why Gomez has not been sworn in even though two members who were elected after Gomez have already taken office.
A spokeswoman for Gomez did not return a call Tuesday afternoon.
It is unusual for so much time to pass between a special election and the winner taking office. In the last several congresses, there was an average of one week between a special election and the winner taking the oath.