Assembly Passes ‘Disclaimer’ Bill

With Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle lobbying for the support of fellow Republicans, the state Assembly voted, 52-17, on Tuesday to approve a bill that would require the Angels to include disclaimers on tickets and ads informing fans the team plays in Anaheim, not Los Angeles.

Although Democrats control the Assembly, the bill would not have passed without Republican support. With 41 votes needed for approval, Democrats provided 37 yes votes and Republicans 15.

Republicans accounted for 16 of the 17 no votes, Democrats for 10 of 11 abstentions.

Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove), whose district includes Angel Stadium, said he expected his “Truth in Sports Advertising Act” to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate. He said he hoped the Republican support represents “a good omen from the standpoint of getting the governor’s signature.”

The city of Anaheim has sued the Angels, charging their new name -- the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim -- violates their stadium lease and contending it contributed $20 million toward renovations in exchange for the prominence of Anaheim’s name. Umberg said owner Arte Moreno has “exploited [the] contract with the city ... and made the team and our community the laughingstock of organized sports.”

Assemblyman Ray Haynes (R-Murrieta) called the bill an “absolutely foolish” response to a dispute between the city and the Angels. He said Pringle -- a former Assembly speaker -- should not “waste our time” with the bill.

“Our budget is $4 billion out of balance now, our freeways are overcrowded, our houses cost too much, we’re running out of water, we’re running out of electricity,” Haynes said, “and we’re arguing about whether the Angels ought to be called the Los Angeles Angels or the Anaheim Angels.”

Although fans both for and against the name change have expressed similar concerns, Umberg said the feedback from citizens contacting his office had been “overwhelmingly” supportive.

“There are many important things being considered in the legislature,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we can’t do more than one thing at a time. That doesn’t mean the legislature should turn a blind eye to the taxpayers [getting the benefit of a contract] and to regulating deceptive advertising.”

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore (R-Irvine), the only Orange County legislator to vote against the bill, said it represented unwarranted government intervention into private business.

“I don’t think anybody believes the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim actually play in Los Angeles,” he said. “They play in Anaheim. I think it’s pretty obvious.”

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Shaikin reported from Los Angeles. Times staff writer Nancy Vogel in Sacramento contributed to this report.