California congressman leaves Democrats to join GOP

By CNN Producer Ted Barrett

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- California Rep. Matthew G. "Marty" Martinez, who was defeated earlier this year in his primary bid for re-election, announced Wednesday he has left the Democratic party and will serve his final months in Congress as a Republican.

"My Democratic colleagues have just lost sight of what's fair for the American people," said Martinez, who was introduced by House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, after attending the weekly Republican Party conference.

"I really believe the Republican agenda stands up for what the American values are and what most people in this country really want their government to do for them," said Martinez, who represents a solidly Democratic district in Los Angeles county.

Martinez said he is "disappointed" with but not "bitter" toward his former Democratic colleagues, most notably because they have not supported GOP tax repeals involving the marriage penalty and estate taxes.

Martinez, first elected to Congress in 1982, denied that the party switch was directly related to his Democratic primary defeat to California State Senator Hilda Solis. Instead he blamed the loss on "lies" about his record on gun control.

The California congressman said he is also upset with Vice President Al Gore, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, over what he said was a promised endorsement that never materialized.

Martinez, 71, has switched parties three times during his political career. In 1960, he left the Democrats for the Republicans over what he said was disappointment over a local election. In 1972, he switched back to the Democrats after saying he had determined the GOP was out of touch with mainstream America.