GOP Assembly leader to step down

Assembly Republican leader Mike Villines from Fresno County, under fire from state GOP leaders for voting for taxes to help close a nearly $42 billion deficit, is expected to resign his leadership position tomorrow.

Sources inside the Capitol say Villines is expected to be replaced by his fellow GOP Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee of San Luis Obispo, who will become the new minority leader.

Blakeslee is considered one of a few moderate GOP lawmakers in the Assembly.

Villines has scheduled a 9 a.m. news conference at the Capitol to "make a major announcement ... about his future plans and the direction of the Assembly Republican Caucus," according to a news release his office sent out this afternoon.

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