EVERYTHING WILL BE DIFFERENT...:

Hispanic caucus boils over on complaints about treatment of women (ERICA WERNER, Feb 1 2007, Bakersfield Californian)

Three female members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus accused the organization's male leaders Thursday of treating women unfairly. Rep. Loretta Sanchez said the caucus chairman called her a "whore." [...]

Politico.com said it was California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez who heard the comment from Baca and repeated it to Sanchez. Nunez said Thursday he had no recollection of either event. Sanchez said later Thursday she did not raise Nunez's name with politico.com.

Baca was supported by only one of six women in the 21-member caucus when he was elected chairman in November. Solis, Loretta Sanchez and her sister, Linda, and Rep. Nydia Velazquez of New York subsequently disputed the election procedure and asked for a new secret-ballot vote. All caucus members are Democrats.

Other concerns include Baca's decision to use money from the caucus' political action committee to fund his sons' unsuccessful campaigns for state office in California last year. That led Solis, the Sanchez sisters and three other lawmakers to sever ties with the fundraising group.