Reject Lungren, 11 Democrats in House Urge

Eleven California Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives called on the Legislature Friday to reject Republican Rep. Daniel E. Lungren as the next state treasurer because he lacks financial expertise.

The letter, addressed to Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) and Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), hit hard at Lungren’s credentials on fiscal issues as a five-term member of the House.

It also seemed to reflect a slight shift among Democratic opponents of Lungren to attacking his alleged inexperience rather than a continuation of just blazing away at his conservative political philosophy.

The letter said Lungren “may have a lifetime of political experience, but he does not possess a background or expertise in fiscal matters. Our state simply cannot afford to provide our state treasurer with on-the-job training.”

The letter was circulated by Rep. Robert T. Matsui of Sacramento and signed by Reps. Tony Coelho of Merced; Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco; Mervyn M. Dymally of Compton; Edward R. Roybal of Los Angeles; Augustus F. Hawkins of Los Angeles; Barbara Boxer of Greenbrae; Esteban E. Torres of La Puente; Matthew G. Martinez of Monterey Park; Pete Stark of Oakland, and Julian C. Dixon of Los Angeles.

In all, there are 27 Democrats and 18 Republicans in the California delegation to the House.

The letter asserted that Lungren’s record “clearly indicates that he is unsympathetic to funding for education, housing, the elderly and environmental compliance. Yet funding for these issues are the fundamental responsibilities of the state treasurer.”

Lungren, nominated by Gov. George Deukmejian to succeed the late Democrat Jesse M. Unruh as treasurer, is facing increasing Democratic opposition to his confirmation, particularly in the state Senate.