The four California legislators were chosen for their political courage in standing up to constituent and party pressure during negotiations on the state budget in 2009. The legislators were dealing with a 42 billion dollar budget problem.
Republican Assemblyman Mike Villines said, "Having been elected then five years and watching budgets that were a mockery of reality ... it was time to get to work and say 'we're gonna put the people first and not our careers.'"
Part of the budget solution called for a temporary tax increase - which made Villines and Cogdill villains within the Republican Party. They both lost their leadership positions in Sacramento ... and wondered if their political careers were over. So when the call about the award came last month ... Mike Villines thought it was a prank.
Villines said, "This voice says 'I'm Caroline Kennedy, I want to talk to you ... I just talked to Dave Cogdill' I didn't believe it was her. In fact, I translated it in my mind it's somebody named after her ... a constituent that needs my help."
Villines returns to California Tuesday. There are constituents and those in his own party who still resent him. But he says at least he can live with himself.
