Todd Spitzer learns about proportion

Referring to himself in the third person, Republican Assemblyman Todd Spitzer of Orange County told reporters that Todd Spitzer would not be made a "martyr" by being forced to work out of a much-smaller Capitol office than the one Todd Spitzer had been using.

"Putting Todd Spitzer in a physical space, trying to shut him down, is almost like begging for the opposite effect," Todd Spitzer said, according to the O.C. Register's Brian Joseph.

Spitzer crowded several GOP lawmakers into his new 391-square-foot office to illustrate the savage punishment he is facing for his outspoken public comments, such as saying his Democratic colleagues are pro-criminal. The forced move has been dubbed "petty bullying" by a spokesman for Assembly Republican leader Mike Villines.

But Steve Maviglio, deputy chief of staff to Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, told Joseph: "If this was a punishment, he wouldn't have a view of the park, he'd be out on the steps with a black plastic bag. I think it's absurd. We thought the Republicans would favor the downsizing of government."

GOP Assemblyman Paul Cook of Yucaipa was originally assigned the tiny office by Republican leader Villines. There were no protests after that move.

(Photo: Rich Pedroncelli/AP)