CA: Governor's timing questioned (on most far-reaching issues of the session)

Mercury News ^ | 8/25/04 | Ann E. Marimow

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO - A year ago on the campaign trail, Arnold Schwarzenegger promised to veto last-minute legislation and end backroom dealing in the Capitol. Now, as the Legislature winds down he is asking lawmakers to endorse his own late proposals on some of the most far-reaching issues of the session.

Before legislators leave town as early as Friday, Schwarzenegger wants them to sign off on five Indian casino deals, a Bay Bridge financing scheme and bills involving access to lower-cost prescription drugs and solar energy -- all plans released in the past week.

The governor's timing ``makes it almost impossible to do anything in a thoughtful way,'' said Sen. Dede Alpert, D-San Diego. ``These aren't little issues.''

In fact, one of Schwarzenegger's last-minute proposals threatened to come undone late Tuesday in the face of bipartisan reservations about the state's first urban Indian casino.

As a candidate in last fall's recall election, Schwarzenegger pledged to veto any measure that did not have ``a full and public hearing by both houses of the Legislature.'' He criticized the Capitol's ``closed doors and backroom deals,'' and promised ``no more decisions in the dark.''

This month, the governor's aides have reminded lawmakers and lobbyists of Schwarzenegger's aversion to hastily crafted bills. But that hasn't stopped him from a series of significant policy proposals for the Legislature to consider before the Aug. 31 deadline.

One of Schwarzenegger's strengths in office has been his methodical checking off of items on his to-do list. But Democratic legislators say that single-minded focus on challenges such as the state budget and workers' compensation reform has let other issues to pile up.