Favors Rebate Opposed by Supervisors : Eastwood Backfires as Lobbyist for Counties

SACRAMENTO — Actor Clint Eastwood on Wednesday paid his first visit to the state Capitol as mayor of Carmel and promptly ad-libbed lines that seemed to conflict with his mission of getting more state money for local government.

He came to Sacramento as the star attraction in a lobbying effort by the the County Supervisors Assn., which opposes a $700-million tax rebate proposed by Gov. George Deukmejian and instead favors giving the money to financially hard-hit county governments.

At a press conference, however, Eastwood appeared to catch some local officials by surprise when he declared his support for the very rebate proposal the supervisors association wants to defeat.

“My gut feeling is that the voters would like it back,” he said, referring to the tax money. Eastwood noted voters approved a government spending limit initiative in 1979 calling for such a rebate, and he deplored a “certain group of politicians that feel that (now) they should call off their bets.”

Supervisors Cite Required Programs

The county supervisors say they need the $700 million Deukmejian wants to use for a rebate to pay for programs required, but not funded, by the governor and the Legislature.

Spokesmen for the supervisors organization estimated that the needs of financially pressed county governments would virtually consume the rebate Deukmejian has proposed over the opposition of state Schools Supt. Bill Honig and Democratic legislative leaders.

Eastwood conceded his position created a “little contradiction” but voiced hope that some vague “compromise” or “middle ground” could be worked out.

Later, Eastwood, who last year won election as mayor of picturesque Carmel and sometimes is mentioned in speculation as a potential future candidate for governor, bristled at the suggestion that he was playing a role for the supervisors as a “publicity tool.” “Absolutely not,” he told a reporter.

Eastwood and a group of county officials met privately with Deukmejian for what the governor described as a “very pleasant little discussion.” Deukmejian sought to assure them that the rebate would not undercut legislation he supports to provide extra revenue to local government.

Flanked by Deukmejian and pressed again by reporters to clarify his position on the rebate, Eastwood responded: “We’re just trying to get our share for the counties. Give us the money for the counties and then give a rebate. How about that? You’re wondering how to manage that, right?”

Eastwood may also have put the supervisors’ unspoken theme into words when he appeared before a rally of 300 county officials at an elegantly restored downtown movie theater. “Mainly, we’re trying to get the squeaky wheel away from Honig and the school people and get the focus back here on counties,” he said, as the county officials applauded lustily.

Later, at an outdoor rally of the same participants on the Capitol steps, Eastwood appeared to seek to dispel any lingering doubt that he supports the rebate at the expense of counties. “Although I support the rebate program the governor has talked about,” he said, “that’s after we take care of the counties.”