Lawmakers’ Trip to D.C. Raises Questions : Prop. 13: State senator and 11 Assembly members listen to Supreme Court deliberations on measure’s constitutionality. Taxpayers pick up hotel tab.

Although unable to influence the outcome, a dozen California Republican lawmakers took time away from the Legislature this week to visit Washington to listen to Supreme Court arguments on the constitutionality of Proposition 13.

The 11 Assembly members and one senator, most of them conservatives in favor of retaining the 1978 property tax-cutting measure, used campaign funds for the air fare, but the taxpayers will pay for their room and board.

“I don’t see what good they can do there,” said Senate GOP Leader Ken Maddy of Fresno. “And it’s hard for me to understand why they went.”

“I wish they would stay back there,” quipped Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) of his political rivals. Brown, however, authorized the 11 Assembly members who took the trip to continue drawing the $92 per day in expense money that they receive while on legislative business.

It is not uncommon for state legislators to visit Washington to lobby members of the California congressional delegation, federal officials and even the White House, sometimes with positive results. But state lawmakers cannot, by their mere presence, influence Supreme Court deliberations.

Asked why he went to Washington to listen to the proceedings, Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R-Glendale) said: “I am an attorney admitted to practice in the Bar and I wanted to be here. Also, I wanted to get a feel of where the court may be going so we can prepare for legislative battle if the court should overturn (Proposition 13).”

Assembly GOP Leader Bill Jones of Fresno, who also made the trip, said: “We are here to represent the people. That is what we are paid to do.”

A group of elected officials, including Gov. Pete Wilson and Jones, had filed a “friend of the court” brief urging the court to uphold the voter-approved tax-cutting measure.

Support for Proposition 13 is a touchstone for many conservative members of the Legislature. Some are known as “Proposition 13 babies” because they were elected as strong supporters of the measure and have praised it ever since.

Jones, who took two top GOP staffers on the trip, said he and some of the others also met with Vice President Dan Quayle and other officials to discuss such things as California’s water problems.

Asked if he were concerned about the trip being portrayed as a junket, Assemblyman Richard Mountjoy (R-Monrovia) said: “If this is a junket, it is a junket that I would encourage every legislator to come on.”

Other GOP lawmakers who went on the trip were Sen. Edward R. Royce of Anaheim and Assembly members Carol Bentley of El Cajon; Jim Brulte of Ontario; Trice Harvey of Bakersfield; Ross Johnson of La Habra; David Knowles of Sacramento; Tom McClintock of Thousand Oaks; Andrea Seastrand of Salinas, and Phillip Wyman of Tehachapi.

Gillam reported from Sacramento and Bunting reported from Washington.