CA: Dems go own way on reform (PeRata appoints Liz Figueroa to lead their own 'reform' effort)

Oakland Tribune ^ | 1/4/05 | Steve Geissinger

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO — Democratic majority lawmakers rebelled Monday against Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to ram through his government reform plan in a special legislative session, opting to launch their own effort that sets up a partisan showdown.

Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, named Sen. Liz Figueroa, D-Fremont, as chairwoman of a new reorganization committee that will immediately begin holding its own hearings throughout the state.

Perata, who holds the second-most-powerful political job in the state after the governor, said during a Capitol news conference that the Legislature will cooperate with Schwarzenegger "where we can" on reforming deficit-ridden state government.

Figueroa, who also will represent the Legislature on the Little Hoover Commission as it considers Schwarzenegger's reorganization plans, said that "shifting boxes is not 'blowing up the boxes'" as the governor vowed. "Don't propose phony reform and try to sell it to us as real reform."

The Fremont Democrat also warned Schwarzenegger against the "cynical game" of trying to force an all-or-nothing legislative vote on a phone book-thick reform plan.

Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson said that "it seems like a premature, partisan shot when they haven't heard yet what it is that the governor's proposing."

"It's unfortunate it only took a few hours for the partisan tone to return to the Capitol," she said, referring to lawmakers convening Monday for the 2005 session. "The lesson of the recall (election) was that we need to put partisanship aside."

In part, Perata said, the Senate created the new Senate Government Modernization, Efficiency and Accountability Committee to allow the public input that "was given fairly short shrift" by the governor's advisory group, the California Performance Review.

Lawmakers said the governor plans to embrace some of the sweeping changes his CPR made last year to streamline bureaucracy and save money during his State of the State Address on Wednesday and in his budget introduction Monday.

At the same time, he's expected to call for an immediate special legislative session to consider the proposal, along with ways to restrain spending and overhaul the political redistricting process that currently favors Democrats. It would run concurrently with the regular session on myriad other issues.

Schwarzenegger will threaten to call a special election by fall if the Democrat-dominated Legislature balks at his proposals.

Those plans could backfire, however, with a ballot also bearing conservatives' competing government reform proposals and Democrats' bids to win approval of proposals ranging from cheaper prescription drugs to a higher minimum wage.

Sen. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, urged the governor to "push aside his political tinkering with redistricting and zero in on the issues that affect the everyday lives of Californians."

Developments already are causing friction within the Legislature as well, with some Republicans supporting redistricting changes.

Assembly GOP leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield said taking power away from lawmakers in drawing district lines isn't necessarily a partisan issue.

"I view it more as the people versus the career politicians," he said. "There are Democrats and Republicans who don't want new districts, but I think mainstream Californians do."

Democrats have laid out an agenda to address middle-class concerns, from highways to health care — services the governor will likely target again for cuts as he tries to close an $8 billion-plus budget gap without tax hikes.

Democratic lawmakers will try to cooperate with the governor but will be "more assertive" this year about their own values, said Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles.

"There's two roads he (Schwarzenegger) could go — there's the partisan Arnold and the nonpartisan Arnold," said Bruce Cain, a UC Berkeley political scientist.

If Schwarzenegger appears intent on redrawing legislative districts — aimed at undermining Democratic power — voters might consider that too partisan, Cain said. If instead he reaches out on fiscal reforms, he might have greater success.

"If you took a poll of the sensible and seasoned observers in California, they'd tell you that the box that needs to be blown up is the fiscal box," Cain said. "It's the mismatch of where money is raised and spent, that's what needs to be reformed."

[hattend]

How does one get a "part-time-legislature" proposition onto the ballot?

Perata can't wield his power as effectively if he is in Sacramento only 2 or 3 times a year.

[goldstategop]

The more I think about it, the better it sounds to cut the Democrats off at the knees. The less time spent in Sacramento, the few opportunities they have to spend our money.

[hattend]

BTTT