Senator Irate at Panel’s Haste on Beer Measure

A state Senate committee member stalked out of a packed hearing room Tuesday, threatening to resign his post because the committee and its chairman were moving “too hastily” on a highly controversial bill that would establish monopolies for beer distributors.

The outburst by veteran Sen. Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward) came shortly before the Senate Governmental Organization Committee voted 7 to 0 to approve the beer bill, which now appears to be on the fast track to Gov. George Deukmejian’s desk.

Later, Lockyer said he became frustrated with the committee’s “lack of deliberations” on a number of bills, including a measure unanimously backed by the Legislature’s top leaders that would allow the Fair Political Practices Commission to close its investigative files to public scrutiny.

“On matters of significance, it seems to me there always is a hurry, hurry, rush, rush, don’t take questions and don’t amend a bill (attitude),” Lockyer told The Times. “I don’t work that way. I have a low threshold for totalitarianism.”

Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) later said Lockyer had reconsidered and decided not to resign from the committee. But the incident served to highlight the ways in which the chairman of a powerful committee can influence the outcome of important legislation.

The two bills cited by Lockyer are among the most controversial and heavily lobbied measures to come before the committee this session.

The FPPC-backed legislation that would close its investigative files was resoundingly rejected by the committee last week amid strong opposition from news executives and civil liberties groups, even though the measure was solidly backed by the Democratic and Republican leaders of both houses.

However, Sen. Ralph Dills (D-Gardena), the Governmental Organization Committee’s chairman, persuaded the Senate to waive legislative rules and bring the bill back for reconsideration. On Tuesday, the committee, which had voted 3 to 6 to reject the bill, agreed without debate and by a near unanimous 7-1 margin to rehear the measure. It is expected to be debated next week.

The beer bill, pushed by an organization of distributors that is among the largest contributors to legislative campaigns, has been fought every step of the way by big chain stores and consumer groups.

Those critics contend its passage would result in higher beer prices. Its supporters, however, argue that government-imposed monopoly territories would not push prices up and would keep small retailers competitive with large discount chains.

Last year, Dills carried a similar measure that easily was approved by the committee and passed by the full Senate. But the bill was derailed in the Assembly. This year, the Assembly was the first to approve the bill, greatly improving its chances of reaching the governor’s desk.

Lockyer said he came to the hearing predisposed to vote against the bill but decided to walk out instead when it became clear that his attempts to narrow the legislation’s scope through an amendment “would be an exercise in futility.”

Dills, contending that the committee agenda was too long for a lengthy debate on the bill, prodded Lockyer to drop his proposed amendment, touching off a heated exchange.

“I’d be happy to (withdraw the amendment) because it doesn’t seem like it will mean anything,” Lockyer snapped.

Dills, still clearly a big supporter of the bill, continued to prod Lockyer, who finally rose and declared: “I think it’s probably the appropriate time for me to resign from the committee, thank you very much. . . . I think I will ask (Roberti) to replace me on the committee with someone more to the chair’s liking.”

To that, Dills replied, “This is not to the chair’s liking . . . “ Later, Dills denied he tried to suppress debate on the bill, contending Lockyer “was not cut off at all.”

Two years ago, Lockyer, known for being volatile, was himself roundly criticized as chairman of the powerful Judiciary Committee after he lashed out at Sen. Diane Watson’s “mindless blather” as she was testifying.

He told the Los Angeles Democrat, “I hope I am offensive enough to make you leave.”

Asked about Tuesday’s incident, Roberti said he had suggested that Lockyer and Dills get together and work out their differences.

“It’s the time of year that we periodically go through things like this,” Roberti said. “I don’t think he really wants to resign.”