Roberti Appointments Reflect Little Change

There were no major changes in leadership Monday as Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) announced appointments of senators to 24 standing committees for the new legislative session.

The Rules Committee, which Roberti chairs, did create one new five-member committee, Veterans Affairs, which will be headed by Sen. Wadie P. Deddeh (D-Bonita).

Deddeh previously chaired the Transportation Committee, but was demoted last year because he voted for confirmation of Republican Rep. Daniel E. Lungren of Long Beach, Gov. George Deukmejian’s first choice for the vacant state treasurer’s job. He was replaced as head of the Transportation Committee by Sen. Quentin I. Kopp (I-San Francisco), who cast a key vote with the majority against Lungren.

Chairing the Senate’s committees will be 21 Democrats, two Republicans and Kopp, the Senate’s only Independent. Democrats outnumber Republicans in the upper house, 24-15.

The two GOP committee heads are Sens. Marian Bergeson of Newport Beach, chairwoman of the Local Government Committee, and Edward R. Royce of Anaheim, who chairs the Constitutional Amendments panel. Kopp continues as chairman of the Transportation Committee.

Regarding the new Veterans Affairs Committee to be headed by Deddeh, Roberti said: “Issues affecting veterans in California are growing with each day and are becoming more complex. It is fitting that the Senate deal with these matters on a regular basis through the standing committee process.”

Earlier this month, Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) downgraded the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee to a subcommittee because, according to an aide, Brown felt the panel did not have enough bills to consider.