Checking Out in Real Style

Gov. George Deukmejian took office seven years ago as a man who seemingly had a difficult time saying yes to anything. But in Sacramento Tuesday, the governor delivered a final State of the State address to the California Legislature that made him sound almost like a newly confirmed political activist. The speech was a veritable laundry list of positive initiatives involving a gas tax increase, mandatory insurance programs, a government-sponsored plan to help first-time home buyers and a proposal to make it easier to pass local bond issues for year-around school use.

Only once did the Republican governor talk about cutting back government, a vague allusion to restricting entitlement programs like welfare and health care for the poor to keep them from outgrowing available state revenues. But even then, he promised to work with the Democratic leadership of the Legislature--for as long as it takes--in order to forge a compromise. An agreement may not be possible, because maintaining such programs is a fundamental Democratic stance. But at least Deukmejian made the offer to work with lawmakers in the spirit of cooperation that unexpectedly bloomed and prevailed during last year’s legislative session.

Mind you, George Deukmejian has not turned into a Mario Cuomo or a Ted Kennedy. But at least the governor finally seems to have sensed the need for state government to grapple with problems before they elude solution through their very enormity. Significantly, he said passage of an $18.5-billion transportation program at the June primary election is absolutely essential--yes, that was the precise phrase he used--to the economic future of California and its quality of life. These were welcome strong words from a chief executive who originally had to be tugged and pulled into accepting the plan’s proposed doubling of the state gasoline tax, from 9 cents per gallon to 18 cents, over a five-year period.

Deukmejian’s desire to leave a positive legacy as governor was apparently the cause of his sudden spurt of energy and willingness to work with the Legislature last year. So it could be that too many have been too quick to write Deukmejian off in 1990 as a lame duck, incapable of having much effect on issues. Aides said that he is determined not to limp out of office this year.

The legislative session will not be all roses. As always, money will be a sticking point between Deukmejian and Democrats. That shoe will drop today when Deukmejian sends his last budget--California’s first $50-billion spending plan--to the Legislature. But his Tuesday address provides a worthy--and challenging--invitation to the lawmakers for cooperation on a variety of issues of substance. If the governor follows his words with action and involvement, as he did in 1989, his final year can be a positive one for California.