Prop. 24--GOP Still Seeks to Make Inroads

A Superior Court judge may have found Proposition 24 to be unconstitutional, but Assembly Republicans still are trying to make things turn out their way.

The minority GOP made another unsuccessful effort Thursday to amend Assembly rules to fully comply with Paul Gann’s controversial initiative, which would have curtailed the power of the Legislature’s Democratic majority and cut the legislative budget.

The measure was struck down late last year by Sacramento Superior Court Judge James Ford, who ruled that the state Constitution gives the Legislature the right to adopt its own rules.

“The will of the people must bow to the Constitution,” he said, referring to voter approval of Proposition 24 on last June’s primary election ballot.

Gann has filed an appeal with the 3rd District Court of Appeal.

Although the Assembly and Senate have taken steps to implement some of the measure’s budget-cutting provisions, the Democrats consistently have fought off attempts to weaken their power--and especially the power of Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco).

When Assemblyman Louis J. Papan (D-Millbrae), chairman of the Assembly Rules Committee, moved Thursday for the adoption of rules that will govern the 1985-86 legislative session, Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) pushed for changes to dilute majority party power.

“The Legislature has a moral obligation, if not a legal obligation, in a democracy to bow to the will of the people,” McClintock said, referring to the initiative.

But Papan replied that the rules changes called for by the initiative would, in effect, give the minority “veto power” over the majority party, which would violate democratic principles.

The McClintock amendments were tabled on a 44-30 party line vote on a motion by Assembly Majority Leader Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles). Then the lower house rules were adopted on a 65-8 bipartisan vote, a considerable number of Republicans deciding to surrender to the inevitable.