Three Who Opposed Brown Are Stripped of Committee Posts

Assembly Speaker Willie Brown stripped three conservative Democratic legislators of their committee posts Tuesday in apparent retaliation for challenging him on key policy issues.

Brown denied to reporters that he was disciplining the three lawmakers and said, “They aren’t being punished at all. Every now and then it’s necessary for the operation around here to utilize the talent of everybody.”

Nevertheless, the powerful San Francisco Democrat removed Assemblyman Gary A. Condit (D-Ceres) as chairman of the Governmental Organization Committee, a lucrative post for campaign contributions because the panel handles liquor and horse racing legislation.

Brown also replaced Assemblyman Steve Peace (D-Chula Vista) as chairman of a Ways and Means subcommittee and ousted Assemblyman Charles M. Calderon (D-Alhambra) as majority whip.

Peace and Calderon also lost their seats on the important Ways and Means Committee, which screens all spending bills, and the Finance and Insurance Committee, which handles banking and insurance legislation.

The three lawmakers were part of the so-called “Gang of Five,” which formed a conservative clique within the 44-member Democratic caucus. Also in the informal group were Assemblymen Rusty Areias of Los Banos and Gerald R. Eaves of Rialto, who apparently escaped without punishment.

The five lawmakers were at odds with the more liberal Speaker on a variety of issues, including his initial opposition to the state income tax rebate and his objection to legislation requiring parental consent for teen-age abortions.

After a meeting of the Democratic caucus at which Brown removed the three members from their committee assignments, all three legislators said they would continue to voice their opinions even if they disagree with the Speaker.

And despite Brown’s denial that he was punishing the legislators, the three interpreted his action as being just that.

“The action can only be perceived as weakness on the part of the Speaker,” Calderon said. “He felt he was not in control of the house and had to reorganize to get back in control. I will continue to vote my conscience.”

Peace, known for his fiery temper and emotional speeches on the Assembly floor, said afterward, “This didn’t come as any great shock to me. I will continue to speak out on how I feel about the issues, regardless of the Speaker,the caucus or anybody else. That’s what I was elected to do.”

And Condit said: “I think the Speaker made a grave mistake. I will continue to represent my district and function as a member of the Democratic caucus and the state Assembly. But it is the Speaker’s prerogative to have whoever he wants to be chairman.”

Over the last few months, all five legislators denied rumors that they were making plans to oust Brown as Speaker, saying they merely disagreed with him on some issues. At the same time, Brown downplayed the existence of the group and insisted he had no plans to punish the members.

After the caucus meeting, Brown said he remained secure in his speakership and that he made changes he believed were in the best interest of the Assembly.

“When there are people who have dominated in a certain category for a long time, I usually make some changes and I am making some changes,” he said. “They come at a time painful for some people and for me.”

Removal of the three set off a chain reaction of reassignments, in which Assemblyman Richard E. Floyd (D-Hawthorne) replaced Condit as chairman of the Governmental Organization Committee.

In turn, Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) replaced Floyd as chairman of the Labor and Employment Committee. And Assemblyman Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria) replaced Peace as Ways and Means subcommittee chairman.

In a separate action, the Speaker named Assemblyman Bruce Bronzan (D-Fresno) as chairman of the joint Legislative Audit Committee, which oversees the state auditor general’s office. Bronzan replaces former Assemblyman Art Agnos, who was sworn in last week as mayor of San Francisco.

In addition, Brown named Assemblyman Burt Margolin (D-Los Angeles) to replace Bronzan as chairman of another Ways and Means subcommittee.