Governor Sweet-Talks Assembly : Praises Hearings on Lungren; Says He Might Bargain

Subscribing to the theory that honey catches more votes than vinegar, Gov. George Deukmejian Thursday repeatedly praised the Assembly’s intense, sometimes-emotional confirmation hearings for treasurer nominee Daniel E. Lungren as “very fair.”

But, in a subtle reminder that vinegar also is a weapon on his political shelf, the Republican governor added that the nomination must be confirmed in order to assure continuation of his productive “partnership” with the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

Deukmejian, answering reporters’ questions at a Los Angeles press conference, also gingerly indicated that he might consider bargaining votes for Lungren in exchange for something Democrats might want--as long as it is not called bargaining.

“I would hope and expect that they (Democrats) will deal with the Lungren nomination on its merits and I will deal with whatever other issues may be of interest to other people on its merits as well. . . . There’s no other way I can express myself on that,” the governor said carefully. He also observed that, “Up to this point, no legislative leader has indicated to me that if I were to do something it would help assure his confirmation.”

Deukmejian’s carefully crafted remarks were part of a full-court press his Administration undertook Thursday in an effort to promote Lungren to the public and bolster his confirmation prospects. Besides Deukmejian’s appearance before the Los Angeles television news media, the governor’s office orchestrated appearances in Sacramento by nearly two dozen supporters.

Among those were Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson and former Republican Lt. Gov. Robert Finch, who now practices law in Pasadena. Both of them stressed at a press conference that Lungren is a “mainstream” Republican, not the right-wing ideologue his critics have claimed.

And for the third day of confirmation hearings being conducted by a special 19-member Assembly committee, The Administration lined up representatives of minority groups to forcefully testify that Lungren can be sensitive to their concerns despite his politically conservative voting record during nine years as a congressman from Long Beach.

“I know Dan; he is not insensitive,” asserted Eunice Sato, a former Long Beach mayor who said she has endured criticism from other Japanese-Americans for agreeing with Lungren’s vote against paying $20,000 in reparations to each still-living Japanese-American who was interned during World War II.

Sato cited Lungren’s hiring of her daughter in his Washington office as evidence the Long Beach Republican is not anti-Asian or anti-female. She added: “He’s been called a racist and if he is a racist I am, too.”

In addition to Sato, the Administration sent up such witnesses as a Cambodian refugee, Nil Hul Long Beach, and a black college dean, Bill Barnes of Long Beach City College, both of whom praised Lungren’s integrity and willingness to listen to their problems.

But most of Lungren’s witnesses encountered a hostile reception from Democrats who questioned them repeatedly about their knowledge of the Republican congressman’s voting record and whether they believed his philosophy would carry over to his adminsitration of the treasurer’s office.

‘Attractive Candidate’

“The fact is Mr. Lungren is a very attractive candidate,” Assemblyman Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles) lectured one witness. “He also has a very, very clear record as it relates to his values. And that’s what troubles me, because he is going to be given a very powerful tool.”

But former Lt. Gov. Finch noted that the late treasurer, Jesse M. Unruh, was a strong Democratic partisan before he was elected treasurer, but seldom pushed Democratic proposals while in the post. “As (Lungren) moves from a legislative role to an executive role, he can handle the job as well as Jesse Unruh did,” Finch said.

Tempers, as they have been all week, were on a hair trigger as Republicans and Democrats interrupted each other to question witnesses. The jostling flared into open conflict at one point after Republican Assembly Leader Pat Nolan of Glendale accused Los Angeles Democrat Maxine Waters of badgering witnesses:

Nolan: “We took all this crap the other day and this is going to stop.”

Waters: “You are not chairman of this committee and you aren’t going to tell me anything. I’m going to sit here and ask questions as long as I want to.”

‘On a Rampage’

Nolan: “I’m protecting the public while you are on a rampage.”

Waters: “If you think you’re protecting the public, you’re crazy.”

Deukmejian, however, described the hearings as “very fair, very thorough.” He explained, “I don’t think tough questioning is the same as being unfair.” He predicted that the confirmation process--particularly when the Senate begins holding hearings Feb. 1--will “continue to be vigorous,” but expressed confidence his nominee will be confirmed.

The governor, who served 16 years in the Legislature, theorized that “most legislators” will not give “a great deal of weight” to opponents’ arguments that Lungren is unfit to serve as treasurer because of his voting record on such issues as the environment and welfare. Nobody has seriously questioned his ability to run the treasurer’s office, the governor said.

Unlike Deukmejian, Lungren privately has expressed surprise at the aggressiveness of the committee, particularly in its questioning of him last Monday, according to one insider who asked not to be identified. But in public, Lungren was reluctant Thursday to criticize the committee’s behavior. During a break, however, he did tell reporters that witnesses were being treated like “bulls in a ring.”

“We do things a little differently in Washington,” the congressman added with a smile.