Deukmejian Weighs Toxics Dept. Timing

Gov. George Deukmejian indicated Tuesday that he would be willing to postpone creation of a new hazardous waste department until January, 1987--two months after the gubernatorial election.

At an impromptu press conference, Deukmejian said he is leaning against calling a special session of the Democrat-dominated Legislature to try to hasten approval of his plan because it could wind up being substantially changed by lawmakers.

“I’ve made no final decision,” the governor said. “(But) I know what mines there are out there, and I’m not sure I’d want to start walking through that mine field.”

Given Top Priority

Deukmejian had listed as one of his top priorities the establishment of a new department to improve the state’s cleanup of hazardous wastes by consolidating a dozen agencies that now share the responsibility.

Rather than reopen debate on the issue by submitting a new bill in a special session, Deukmejian indicated he will try to win approval of a compromise measure stalled by Democrats and still pending in the Assembly. If approved by the Legislature when it reconvenes next year, it will not take effect until Jan. 1, 1987.

In the closing hours of the Legislature’s 1985 session, Assembly Democrats refused to act on the measure because Republicans would not support an unrelated bill that would have raised Medi-Cal benefits chiefly for disabled elderly couples.

The action marked the second time this year that the Democrats blocked Deukmejian’s reorganization plan.

Gordon Cologne, a former legislator who spearheaded the governor’s second drive to create the department, recommended that Deukmejian call a special session to run concurrently with the regular session in January.

Under that scenario, the governor would submit a new bill, which would take effect sooner--90 days after the special session ended.

Disadvantage Noted

But Deukmejian told reporters, “The disadvantage of the special session is that you have to reintroduce the bill; it has to go through the committees again. You then, of course, give those who have been opposed to it another opportunity, and you don’t know what the final makeup of the package is going to be.

“There was a lot of compromising that was already done on this so I have some concern that if (we) start the process all over again, then probably there are going to be some that are going to want to extract a further pound of flesh in order to get their support.”

Originally, Deukmejian had hoped to have the new department in operation by this December. By waiting until 1987, he would be unable to take credit during a reelection campaign for the creation of a new toxics department.

However, a member of Deukmejian’s staff said this would not present a political liability for the governor because winning passage of the reorganization bill would be a sufficient accomplishment by Election Day even if it did not start working until two months later.