Wright Assails Ethics Proposals at Assembly Committee’s Hearing

Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) this week questioned whether the Legislature is moving too quickly to approve wide-ranging proposals on ethics.

Wright, who earlier this year was investigated by Ventura County Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury, especially complained about a provision in one proposal to arm a new Assembly ethics committee with authority to refer matters of criminal misconduct to local law enforcement agencies.

During an Assembly Rules Committee hearing Tuesday night, Wright questioned whether it was proper to give district attorneys complaints that are merely allegations of misconduct. She said that based on past experience, she is “not too keen about having district attorneys jump into everything.”

In an interview Wednesday, Wright downplayed any connection between her views and Bradbury’s investigation. Bradbury looked into allegations that Wright used her political clout to keep her daughter from losing her driver’s license and going to jail for traffic violations. Her daughter, Victoria Wright, committed 28 violations since 1981.

In May, Bradbury concluded that although Cathie Wright often acted improperly, she committed “no clear-cut criminal violation.”

Wright said at the time that the report was politically motivated and failed “to make a case against me legally.”

Wright said that instead of channeling cases to local law enforcement agencies, she would prefer that the Assembly ethics panel turn over criminal matters to Atty. Gen. John K. Van de Kamp, who would apply a uniform statewide standard to cases.

“Every district attorney deals differently around the state,” she said.

Wright said she is uncertain how she will vote on various ethics proposals, which are expected to be approved by the Legislature. But she cautioned against pushing through an ethics plan “so late in the session,” which is scheduled to end Friday.

Wright’s comments Tuesday were made as the Rules Committee, of which she is a member, conducted a hearing to review a proposal to create an ethics committee to investigate abuses and recommend penalties for lawmakers, including expulsion.

At the hearing, Wright said that whatever standards are established, some lawmakers will find ways to skirt them. “What is put into law is not going to make the system 100% pure,” she said.

Wright suggested that lawmakers individually ought to police themselves.

“I get upset when I think we have to go through all this” to prove that lawmakers are above suspicion, Wright said.

Later in the hearing, Assembly Rules Committee Chairman Tom Bane (D-Tarzana) told Wright: “As much as you dislike it, we are going to have a set of ethics.”

Times staff writer Daniel M. Weintraub contributed to this story.