Stars Protest but Governor Won’t Yield on Toxics List

As nearly two-dozen Hollywood celebrities rallied in protest outside his office, Gov. George Deukmejian said Monday that he has no intention of changing his plans for implementing Proposition 65, the anti-toxics initiative, and he denounced the star-studded demonstration as a “publicity event.”

The governor, refusing to meet with the celebrities and brushing aside charges that he is caving in to industry demands, told reporters that he will not back down from his decision to limit the initial application of the ballot initiative to 29 chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects in humans. Sponsors of the measure want the governor to use a list of roughly 250 chemicals that have been shown to cause such problems in humans or laboratory animals.

“I made a decision in accordance with the provisions of Proposition 65 and upon the recommendations of the top people of our Health and Welfare Agency and that decision is in keeping with the intent of Proposition 65,” said Deukmejian, who has appointed a 12-member scientific panel to determine later what other substances should be included.

The governor opposed the toxics initiative on last November’s ballot but pledged after its overwhelming approval to fully implement it.

The entertainers--including such well known names as Jane Fonda and Jeff Bridges, many of whom had campaigned for passage of the initiative--pledged to use their influence to sway public opinion against the governor.

“This is just the beginning,” warned Fonda, who, like the other celebrities, wore T-shirts emblazoned with Deukmejian’s office phone number and a message urging the public to “Call Duke.”

“Read our chests,” she declared, suggesting that voters call the governor and register their protests. Fonda, who is married to Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica), a co-sponsor of the anti-toxics initiative, added: “This is a political issue for us. The scientific issue has been settled as far as we can see.”

The controversy over the initiative, which was approved by 63% of California voters, revolves around the measure’s requirement that the governor publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects. By Nov. 1, 1988, it will be illegal for businesses to discharge any of the listed chemicals into drinking water supplies.

Attempts by Hayden and others to overturn the governor’s decision on what chemicals to list have met with no success, so Monday’s celebrity protest was organized with the intent of turning up the heat on Deukmejian through a media blitz.

Well-Executed

Aside from a steady downpour of rain that dampened their entrance, it was a well-rehearsed and executed performance for the Hollywood crowd. The stars led a procession of television cameras and still photographers to the Assembly chambers where their screen credits were announced and they were greeted with standing ovations.

But an attempt to win an audience with the governor fizzled.

Deukmejian’s aides had earlier informed actor John Forsythe that the governor would not have time to meet with them. So “St. Elsewhere” star Ed Begley Jr., acting as spokesman, was forced to make his very polite demands to the governor’s receptionist, Jackie Habecker.

“Hi, Jackie,” Begley said in his most accommodating voice. “I’m here with this group of people and we’d like an appointment with the governor.”

“That won’t happen today,” replied Habecker, who has had to turn hundreds of people away in her capacity as official greeter to the last four governors.

Meets With Manufacturers

Although Deukmejian was reported by his aides to be too busy to meet with the entertainers, he did have time to speak Monday to the California Manufacturer’s Assn., an influential lobbying group that opposed Proposition 65 and was among those urging the governor to exclude many chemicals from the list of cancer-causing substances.

Asked by reporters why he could not meet with the Hollywood stars as well, Deukmejian said: “My schedule was already filled.” The governor said his aides had offered to set up a meeting for the entertainers with top state health officials responsible for implementing Proposition 65, but the offer was turned down.

Fonda said Monday’s media event foreshadows a much larger campaign to be waged by 250 entertainment personalities, including Barbara Streisand and Michael J. Fox, who intend to make public appearances statewide to pressure Deukmejian into changing his stance.

Among other entertainers who participated in Monday’s demonstrations were Rosanna Arquette, Veronica Hamel, Kristy McNichol, Donna Mills, Demi Moore and Moon Zappa.