GOP Walks Out as Wright Speaks at State Legislature

Most Assembly Republicans walked out of the lower house chamber Monday when U.S. House Speaker Jim Wright (D-Tex.), under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, was introduced to speak to a joint meeting of the Assembly and Senate.

“We are all distressed that a sleazy person such as Jim Wright was invited to address the Assembly,” Minority Leader Pat Nolan (R-Glendale), who led the GOP walkout, told reporters afterward.

Nolan also charged that Democrats asked Wright to come to California “to raise money for their political campaigns.” He added, “There’s no reason why we should give credibility to a man who has abused the office he holds.”

Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s national campaign chairman, said: “I’m not mad at the Republicans. They do what they have to do.”

After his speech, Wright attended a Democratic fund-raising function at a Sacramento hotel that was closed to the press.

Brown invited Wright, who will preside over the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta next month, to speak to the Legislature when Brown was in Washington last spring.

About two dozen protesters carrying signs paraded and chanted outside the state Capitol while Wright gave a 15-minute lackluster speech to a half-empty chamber.

Some of the signs said: “Wright is Wrong,” “Impeach Jim Wright” and “Wright is Too Left and Too Sleazy.”

Some Listened

A handful of GOP members did stay for Wright’s speech, including Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress), who said she almost walked out but decided to stay because she had respect for the Speaker’s office.

In his address, Wright congratulated California for having an influential congressional delegation but made no mention of his ethics problems.

The committee recently announced it was looking into six allegations of possible misconduct against Wright, including whether campaign funds were used to help publish Wright’s book, “Reflections of a Public Man,” for which he received a large 55% royalty.

President Reagan has recommended that an independent counsel be named to conduct the investigation; Wright has said he would welcome an outside counsel.

Nolan said Wright should step down from his legislative leadership post until the charges against him are resolved.

“It is the height of arrogance for him to continue leading the House,” the GOP leader said. “It is even greater arrogance to appear before us in his stonewall pose as if nothing were the matter.”