Bid to Amend Initiative Suffers Setback

A politically charged Democratic effort to amend the so-called “speedy trial” initiative to assure that women’s abortion rights are not tampered with suffered a potentially fatal setback Thursday in the Senate.

Sen. Barry Keene (D-Benicia), the Democratic floor leader, failed by a wide margin when he asked the Senate to permit a quick committee hearing on the legislation. Without a prompt hearing, the Legislature cannot consider the proposal before adjourning for the year Sept. 15.

The issue has taken on heavy political overtones because the speedy trial initiative is backed by U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson, who is expected to be the Republican nominee for governor next year.

Opposed by Sponsors

One of the Democrats who would like to challenge Wilson, Atty. Gen. John K. Van de Kamp, has been leading the attack on the speedy trial initiative. Van de Kamp charges that provisions of the initiative repealing privacy rights granted to prisoners also would throw out the same privacy principles that have established abortion rights in California.

Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner came up with the idea of a second initiative that would not have the offensive language in it, thereby allowing pro-choice Democrats to support the anti-crime measure.

But Keene’s measure was opposed by sponsors of the speedy trial initiative, who claimed that Van de Kamp’s interpretation is legally unsound and politically motivated to embarrass Wilson.

What Keene wanted Thursday was the Senate’s waiver of a provision of the state Constitution that requires a 30-day public notice before any legislation can be considered by a committee.

He introduced his proposed constitutional amendment--nearly identical to the initiative backed by Wilson, except that it does not contain the controversial wording that some view as a threat to abortion rights--only last Friday. And with the Legislature scheduled to adjourn Sept. 15, Keene does not have time to wait the legally required 30 days to have his bill heard and still make it through both houses of the Legislature.

The vote was 17 to 15. But Keene needed 30 votes, or three-fourths of the 40-member house, to waive the rule. Keene couldn’t round up a single Republican vote in support of his effort.

Keene Challenged

Keene argued that his legislation is needed to “clarify” the disputed language of the speedy trial initiative.

But opponents of his measure challenged Keene’s contention and also said they suspected that he was simply trying to undermine Wilson.

Sen. Bill Leonard (R-Big Bear), one of those who voted against the rule waiver, said, “The privacy provisions of the initiative are very important to law enforcement in California. . . . I don’t think it’s a threat to abortion rights.”

Sen. Quentin L. Kopp (I-San Francisco), who also voted against Keene, said the Democratic leader’s motives were “transparent” and a “ploy” to damage the initiative and Wilson.

After Keene lost the vote, he said he would “go back to the drawing board.” But he acknowledged that his failed effort to waive the 30-day hearing rule was probably the Democrats’ “last shot” at getting a hearing on the alternative measure before the end of the year. He said he did not know whether he would try again in January.