Speaker Gains Narrow Support of Choices for Committee Posts

Assembly Speaker Willie Brown barely managed to win house approval of his new committee assignments Wednesday as Republicans complained that he was not giving them enough clout.

The close vote indicated that the Assembly remains bogged down in internal politics and may have a tough time reaching bipartisan agreements on major issues this year.

The resolution creating the 24 Democratic-dominated committees received 41 yes votes--37 from Democrats and four from Republicans--the bare minimum needed for approval in the 80-member chamber. Eleven GOP members voted no, and more than 20 other members, including the “Gang of Five” dissident Democrats, abstained.

Opponents contended that they did not get enough choice slots on committees. No Republican was given a chairmanship by Brown--a departure from previous years--nor were any of the Gang of Five.

The GOP first blocked approval of the committee assignments in a bitter parliamentary fight Tuesday, forcing an unusual special floor session Wednesday. The committees had to be approved before hearings could begin on bills.

“Our quarrel with Speaker Brown is he stands up and gives glowing speeches about how he is dedicated to fairness for all the members of the house,” Assembly GOP leader Ross Johnson of La Habra said. “The naked truth is that he is for Willie Brown and the Democrats and the devil take the hindmost.”

Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) charged that Brown was using the speakership “to reward his friends and punish his enemies,” adding, “one person should not have the power to decide the fate of every member.”

Brown insisted that he had mostly followed the GOP’s own recommendations for Republican committee assignments. He added that the panels also reflected the partisan makeup of the house, which contains 46 Democrats and 33 Republicans with one vacancy.

“I made these assignments according to the rules,” Brown said. “I have never exercised partisanship in my decisions. I am an easy person to get along with.”

Asked for comment, GOP leader Johnson said, “That’s utter nonsense.” Johnson also said he had “no comment” concerning the four Republicans who voted with Brown.