Speaker Brown’s Accomplishments

The Times devoted considerable space to an attack by a self-proclaimed “expert” on me, my record and that of the state Assembly under my speakership (“A Record for Willie Brown but a Loss for Public Policy,” by Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, Opinion, March 20).

In spite of the media attention paid to my having broken the longevity record set by the late Jesse Unruh, that record is of little importance. What has been important about the last seven years and three months is the major public policy accomplishments--accomplishments which your so-called expert chose to ignore.

The Legislature’s work product during that period has included several landmark laws:

- In 1982, as part of an on-going effort to stabilize spending and curtail future budget cuts, the Legislature enacted sweeping reforms in the Medi-Cal system and in health care insurance.

- In 1984, we enacted the Hart-Hughes Education Act, a measure which not only instituted sweeping school reforms, but which committed most of our new revenues to improving the quality of education.

The 1985-86 session was widely hailed as among the most productive in decades. Among the major legislative initiatives:

- A reform of the state’s unitary system of taxation--a measure which has enhanced our ability to compete in the world marketplace and created thousands of jobs.

- A welfare reform program which has become a model for the nation in training welfare recipients for long-term employment.

In 1987, the Legislature realized its most productive year yet. Among other things, we:

- Rebated $1.1 billion to taxpayers.

- Simplified California’s tax laws and brought them into conformity with the new federal law.

- Helped local governments and created significant savings for local taxpayers by transferring responsibility for the funding of California’s trial courts to the state.

- Enacted a comprehensive package of legislation aimed at curbing last year’s alarming increase in freeway violence.

- Reached a landmark agreement on tort reform.

I am proud to have served with the men and women legislators who have worked so hard to meet the public policy needs of this state. I like to think that, as Speaker of the Assembly, I have played some part in creating an environment in which each Assembly member has been free to pursue and accomplish such goals.

WILLIE L. BROWN JR.

Speaker of the Assembly

Sacramento