The Legislature's two appropriations committees are considered prime assignments for legislators because the panels oversee every fiscal bill in the Capitol, giving members power that attracts campaign contributions. When the Senate Appropriations Committee met recently to approve a large batch of Senate proposals collectively dubbed the "suspense file," two veteran members, Sens. Debra Bowen, D-Marina del Rey, and Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, were noticeably absent and had been replaced without explanation. The reason? Bowen and Speier apparently wanted to ask questions about bills in a suspense hearing designed to be as efficient as possible. In fact, Senate leaders traditionally have decided...