State’s Power in House Could Be Curbed if It Can’t Retain Coelho’s Leadership Post

House Democrats from California, who had hoped to use their immense legislative power this year to address a wide range of state needs, are in disarray after the decision by Rep. Tony Coelho (D-Merced) to resign as the Democratic leadership’s third-ranking member.

Coelho, who has said that he will leave Congress rather than face a lengthy ethics inquiry into his acquisition of a $100,000 junk bond, is giving up the job of majority whip, which controls the flow and content of key House legislation and can have a crucial impact on measures affecting California.

Members of the state’s 27-person Democratic delegation are now trying to replace Coelho with one of their own by rallying support for Rep. Henry A. Waxman of Los Angeles. But they concede that Waxman, an influential liberal who has been active in health care and clean air issues, faces an uphill fight because he entered the race later than his three competitors.

Waxman Has ‘a Shot at It’

“That’s a handicap, there’s no question about it,” Waxman said Thursday, pausing briefly in his efforts to lobby colleagues. “But I think we have a definite shot at it.”

Another problem is that Waxman has yet to declare his candidacy formally. He said that he is still “checking out the situation to see whether there is enough support out there. I’m acting like a candidate, but the decision is not final.”

As they wait for Waxman’s decision, Californians are mourning the loss of a leadership post that had come to symbolize their growing power in the House. California’s Democratic delegation--the largest from any state--controls key House committees and had planned to flex its growing muscle this year on issues ranging from air pollution and rapid transit to AIDS and immigration funding.

“There’s no question that having (the majority whip job) taken away hurts the state,” said Rep. Robert T. Matsui of Sacramento. With a Californian in that post, he added, “we had direct access to the leadership, and they were sensitive to state concerns.”

Reparations Bill Cited

Matsui said, for example, that having a Californian as whip had been crucial to winning House approval of $1.2 billion in reparations for Japanese-Americans--most of them from California--who were put in detention camps by the federal government during World War II.

“The leadership made this a priority, but it was a Californian who made the difference in actually bringing it to a vote,” he said. “That’s a clear advantage.”

Rep. Leon E. Panetta of Monterey, who heads the House Budget Committee, said that it has helped California to have someone in the leadership “who is sensitive to state needs . . . .”

If a non-Californian is elected to the whip post, he added, “California will have to fight a lot of these legislative battles with more difficulty. We’ll have to make the same arguments to people who are friendly but not necessarily so sympathetic.”

On Wednesday, Coelho made an emotional farewell speech at a breakfast meeting of the state Democratic delegation. He urged members to work together but did not pledge to work for Waxman or any other candidate running for majority whip.

However, most members indicated that they would support Waxman when the House Democratic caucus votes in several weeks.

Disunity Blamed in Burton Defeat

Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco said that Californians realize they need to act more as a unit to protect the state’s interests. She said that the late Rep. Phil Burton (D-San Francisco) would have been elected majority leader in 1976 over Jim Wright of Texas if the delegation had been more unified. Burton lost by a thin margin.

“We’re all very enthusiastic about this candidacy,” said Rep. Don Edwards of San Jose, the dean of the Democratic delegation. “We’re going to go to work and elect Henry Waxman.”

In the race for majority whip, the early front-runner is believed to be Rep. William H. Gray III (D-Pa.), who heads the House Democratic caucus and is the highest ranking black in the House. Also in the competition are Rep. David E. Bonior (D-Mich.), the chief deputy whip, and Beryl Anthony Jr. (D-Ark.), who heads the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Hadn’t Considered Running

All three began making plans to run for the whip job several weeks ago, expecting that Coelho would move up to the No. 2 leadership position in the House if a vacancy occurred at the top. However, Waxman did not consider entering the race until Coelho’s unexpected announcement that he was resigning from Congress, potentially leaving California without a voice in the House leadership.

Waxman must now try to win over some members, including Californians, who would normally have supported him but had already lined up behind other candidates.

“I respect Henry a great deal, but I told Dave (Bonior) that I would be with him several days ago,” said Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson of Los Angeles. “Right now, I’m working to round up support for Bonior.”

Nevertheless, House members do not discount Waxman’s chances.

“You certainly can’t count him out,” said Rep. Bill Richardson (D-N. M.), who is uncommitted. “Henry is the most formidable organizer in the House. Starting late is a factor, but he compensates for that with the most impressive ability to line up support for a position that I’ve seen around here.”