Democrats Stymie GOP Bid to Cut Brown Powers

A Republican-sponsored resolution that would have stripped Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) of much of his power was sidetracked Monday by the Democratic-dominated Rules Committee.

The resolution, sponsored by Assemblyman William H. Lancaster (R-Covina), would take away the Speaker’s power to appoint committee chairmen and members. This authority would be transferred to the Rules Committee with the Speaker as chairman.

On a 6-1 vote, the resolution was sent to a special subcommittee established to consider rules changes proposed in response to criticism of the present system.

The Speaker’s powers give Brown life-or-death authority over legislation, making his office the second most important, next to the governor, in state government.

Since the first of this year, both GOP assembly members and a group of Democratic dissidents known as the “Gang of Five” have proposed stripping Brown of many of his powers.

Among other things, the “Gang of Five” wants to require the Speaker to submit a written statement citing the reason for removing any Assembly member from a committee, and also require that any such removal be ratified by a house ethics committee.

All five of the dissident Democrats lost plum committee assignments and were moved into less desirable offices by Brown for challenging his leadership.

Brown responded to his critics last week by appointing a nine-member task force made up of Democrats loyal to him to examine current Assembly operations and recommend changes.

The Speaker said lawmakers “should be willing to examine closely this legislative process and to make appropriate changes if such changes actually result in an improvement of our public service.”