Senate Leader Burton Treated for Heart Attack

State Senate leader John L. Burton (D-San Francisco) underwent emergency treatment for a heart attack Wednesday after he was flown by helicopter to a Sacramento hospital from Lake Tahoe.

“His doctor said John had what could be considered a very mild heart attack. There was minimal damage and a full recovery is expected,” said Burton spokesman Dave Sebeck.

The high-strung president pro tem of the Senate, who maintained an especially active pace during the last frenetic days of the legislative session that ended Friday, was stricken Tuesday evening while attending a “legislator of the year” banquet hosted by the Laborers International Union, AFL-CIO, at a South Lake Tahoe casino resort.

Sebeck said Burton, 66, complained of discomfort and shortness of breath and was admitted to a local hospital. Later, he was transferred by helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Sacramento, where he underwent the first of two scheduled angioplasty treatments to unblock clogged arteries.

The second angioplasty, performed Wednesday afternoon, was characterized by heart surgeon Louis A. Vismara as a step intended to head off future problems.

Vismara said Burton would be released from the hospital Saturday and could return to a limited work schedule next week.

Sebeck said Burton, elected Senate leader in February 1998, had no history of heart problems. His older brother, Rep. Phil Burton (D-San Francisco), died in 1983 of a ruptured abdominal artery and heart disease.

John Burton, known in the Capitol for bombast and indiscriminate eruptions of temper, is a cellular telephone addict and was making calls to his staff from his hospital bed Wednesday morning, said Sebeck. The droll spokesman added, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the hospital staff who will be dealing with [Burton] at this time.”