But they didn’t know that he was out for revenge. Every political analyst at the time had it down as uncontroversial and was sure to be signed by Governor Schwarzenegger. The Assembly had had passed it 78-0, with the Senate following up with a 40-0 vote. Even Assembly and Senate Republicans didn’t have any issues with it. As it was going to help the Port of San Francisco with financial districts and other issues, it was seen as a general benefit to the city. Schwarzenegger’s revengeĪssembly Bill 1176, authored by Ammiano, was considered by many to be an extremely easy bill to pass. Well, except for one of Ammiano’s bills sitting on his desk. Schwarzenegger wanted to do something to get back, but there was really nothing he could do. The remarks made national news, and the Governor was now deeply embarrassed. While the Governor had been expecting some jeers, he was a Republican at a Democratic event after all, he had not been expecting that. As soon as former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown introduced him, Ammiano immediately shouted “You lie!” and continued to yell while walking out in protest, including shouting to the Governor that he could “kiss my gay ass.” For Ammiano sitting in the audience, this was just too much.

Schwarzenegger made a surprise appearance. At a Democratic Party fundraiser at San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel, one of the premier Democratic events right on Ammiano’s home turf, Gov. Needless to say, Ammiano and Schwarzenegger immediately butted heads, especially when it came to Ammiano’s more left-leaning bills moving up and Schwarzenegger swatting them down.

Former Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (Photo: Wikipedia)Īmmiano, an LGBT activist who had worked with famed San Francisco Supervisor and LGBT advocate Harvey Milk in the 70’s, had worked his way up to the state Assembly in the 2000’s and was known as one of the most liberal members of the Assembly. And none of them were more vocal than former San Francisco Assemblyman Tom Ammiano. But in 2009, he now had enemies in the state Legislature. And he even kept up his popularity, managing to win 56% of the state in the 2006 Gubernatorial election. As a more moderate Republican who favored both social programs and fiscal responsibility, as well as a mix of other views, the ‘Governator’ managed to win over many people when first elected.

A growing budget deficit and backing lower nurse-to-patient ratios, among other decisions, had put a strain on his approval rating. Back in the late 2000’s, then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s popularity was falling.

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