Wilson, Feinstein Hold First Meeting Since ’90 Race

Republican Gov. Pete Wilson and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) met Tuesday, for the first time since their bruising 1990 gubernatorial race, to map strategy for retrieving $1.4 billion in federal immigration funds for the state.

The 45-minute meeting began with Feinstein faking a punch to Wilson’s stomach and the two rivals sharing a hearty laugh, according to a Wilson aide. Afterward, the Californians held a news conference in Feinstein’s office to show off their cooperative spirit.

“If anything is clear, it’s that the people of California want people in leadership to work together on a bipartisan basis and get something done,” Feinstein said. “I think the time has come that we put aside what is past history and really try to write some positive future history.”

Feinstein was defeated by Wilson in the 1990 governor’s race before she trounced John Seymour, the governor’s handpicked successor, in November to fill the remaining two years of Wilson’s Senate term.

Saying, “As far as I am concerned we are friends again,” Wilson praised Feinstein’s swift action after his request that she lobby support on Capitol Hill for federal funds that the governor contends are owed to California for providing immigrant and refugee services required by Congress.

“I am greatly cheered by her response,” Wilson said. “I think the kind of cooperation she is demonstrating . . . augurs very well for getting the money that in fact we should get from the federal government for what is in fact a federal responsibility.”

A bit of tension surfaced at the press conference when Feinstein commented that much of the blame for the lack of funds rests with the failure of the Bush Administration to put more than $1 billion in immigration money in the federal budget.

The funds, Feinstein said, were approved by Congress and “then cut back by a certain President whom I will be polite enough not to mention in this instance.”

Wilson interrupted Feinstein by arguing that the Democratic-controlled Congress was at fault as well. “Give credit where it’s due,” he said. “They’re both guilty.”

Both leaders said they are hard at work trying to obtain the immigrant funds for California, although Feinstein said it may be “unrealistic” to count on the full amount.

At Wilson’s suggestion, Feinstein said, she has convened a group of Republican and Democratic senators from six large states affected by the immigrant funding shortage to push for the money. Wilson, here to attend the National Governors Assn. conference, said he succeeded in getting governors from four large states to join him in signing a letter to President Clinton requesting that he include the money when he unveils his 1994 budget next month.

Wilson is scheduled to make his case for recovering the funds today in meetings with the entire California congressional delegation and with Leon Panetta, director of the Office of Management and Budget and a former congressman from Monterey.

Feinstein and Wilson said they discussed other issues, including creating jobs for Californians who are out of work because of Congressional cuts in defense and aerospace funding.

Feinstein said she has been told she is fortunate to represent California as a senator rather than as governor, given the state’s financial crisis.

“I think it’s true the governor has a hard job,” Feinstein said. “I told him people are saying to me, ‘Aren’t you glad you’re not governor?’ It brought a smile to his face and not a quizzical response. I think he knew what I was saying.”