Reaching a Political Pique

Sometimes politicians rise above petty party politics, personal pique and regional interests to do the right thing for the common good. That happened last year when, in a rare display of political responsibility that is too often missing in funds issues, Sens. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.) and Alan Cranston (D-Calif.) and seven congressmen from Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties stood together in support of a $1.3-billion flood control project for the Santa Ana River.

But sometimes politicians show more interest in playing political hardball to protect their own interests, as Rep. George Brown (D-Colton) now seems to be doing.

We liked him better when he was part of that congressional bipartisan effort last year that put flood control protection and the public interest ahead of partisanship. But that was before the bitter 1984 elections, in which Republicans went after the seats held by Brown and Rep. Jerry Patterson (D-Santa Ana). Patterson was beaten. Brown survived a tough campaign, but he was reportedly upset because Rep. William Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton) spoke at a fund-raising event for Brown’s Republican challenger.

Last week Brown broke ranks on the flood control issue and was the only one of the delegation who raised objections to its inclusion in an omnibus water projects bill. That lack of unanimity could delay the start of critically needed flood control improvements because Congress wants to see local accord and agreement among the congressmen whose districts are involved. It has taken nearly 20 years to achieve that agreement and now Brown, who supported the approach last year, is raising objections, although he has not formally asked that the Santa Ana River project be deleted.

Dannemeyer says that another congresssman told him Brown was “a little piqued” about Dannemeyer’s support for Brown’s campaign opponent. Brown did admit that he didn’t feel “. . . nearly so enthusiastic” about supporting the flood control measure “just to help a bunch of guys who are out to sink me.”

We urge that he forget his political pique and continue to support the measure. Doing so would help people in three counties who are not out to sink him, but very well could sink themselves if the Santa Ana River is hit with a major flood before the flood control project is completed.