ELECTIONS / U.S. CONGRESS : Harman Takes a Defensive Stance, Starts Building Bridges With GOP

When the GOP takes over Congress in January, Rep. Jane Harman (D-Rolling Hills) will probably retain her committee assignments, her office space, even much of her staff.

Also, with so many Democrats ousted or retired from office, she will make a leap in seniority in her second term. And with Republicans poised to increase defense spending, it could bode well for her South Bay district, where the aerospace business still looms large.

But the changeover still will mean a whole new world--and a tougher time--for Harman.

Her Clinton Administration contacts might not mean much if the President finds himself at an impasse with the Republican leadership. She was a strong supporter of the Family Medical Leave Act and the assault weapons ban, two measures the new GOP leaders have hinted they would try to repeal.

And when it comes to increasing defense funding, she could be caught in a bind. She could get pressure from contractors to vote for defense budgets, even if President Clinton argues that more money for the military will hinder efforts to reduce the deficit.

“I am not a hypocrite about this,” Harman said last week. “We can’t infinitely expand spending and reduce the deficit at the same time.”

In any case, political analysts, supporters and even Harman say that it will be more critical than ever for her to pursue a middle-of-the-road, if not conservative, approach in her second term.

“The moderate Republicans are going to forge alliances with the moderate Democrats, of which I am one,” she said. “The potential for us as a center coalition to have an effect on issues is as large, or larger, than in the last Congress.”

Harman declared victory against Rancho Palos Verdes Councilwoman Susan Brooks only last week, after final absentee ballots put Harman over the top by a thin margin of 812 votes. Brooks has not conceded, and may seek a recount or contest the election by trying to prove voter fraud.

“A year ago, everyone was saying ‘Harman’s going to win, she’ll spend a lot of money,’ ” said Allan Hoffenblum, a Republican consultant. “Now she’ll be spending much of her term wondering who’s going to run against her. She’s a sophomore in a minority party, and she’s not going to have much influence.”

For example, in her first term, Harman cut through red tape to speed up the awards for defense conversion grants. But this term Republicans could comb through those grants for spending cuts.

And California’s congressional delegation may no longer have as much influence since it could be virtually shut out of committee chairmanships, Republican or Democrat.

“It will be more important than ever for them to work together,” said Jan Denton, executive director of the Washington-based California Institute, a public interest group.

But with the delegation split--27 Democrats to 25 Republicans--Harman could play a greater role in uniting its members.

She teamed with Rep. Steve Horn (R-Long Beach) earlier this year to help save the C-17 cargo plane, made by the McDonnell Douglas Corp. in Long Beach. And they plan to work together to keep the Long Beach Naval Shipyard off the base closure list in 1995.

“We don’t have to give a damn (about ideological clashes),” Horn said of the center coalition. “What we have to be responsive to is our constituents.”

Horn and Harman made appeals for bipartisanship on the House floor Tuesday. Harman also has toned down her rhetoric on the GOP’s Contract With America, which she called the “Contract on America” during the campaign.

Harman says she will take a look at some of its proposals, such as a middle-class tax cut. She already is on record in favor of a balanced budget amendment, expected to be a GOP priority in the first 100 days.

“I pledge to stay in the center and build the bipartisan coalitions we built the last time,” Harman said. “I will be clear to voters. I want a strong defense, and I will also vote for deficit reduction at the same time.”

On defense issues, some of the South Bay’s business leaders, who backed her campaign, still believe that she will be able to come through for the district. Some of her contacts extend beyond partisan posts, such as Navy Secretary John Dalton, who called to wish her the best when absentee votes were being counted.

“Jane is a very aggressive individual,” said Edward E. (Pete) Aldridge Jr., president of the Aerospace Corp. in El Segundo. “I don’t think you’ll see one nickel of change in her attitude in fighting for the South Bay and fighting for the high-tech arena. And that, I think, is consistent with the Republican leadership.”

Aerospace executives backed Harman, even though Brooks called for increased defense spending.

“Having Jane there is to our advantage because she understands the defense issues so well,” said Steve Chaudet, vice president of public affairs for Lockheed Corp. and a director at the California Institute. “She will be as effective; it will just be more difficult. If (Brooks) was elected, it would have taken her a longer time to get up to speed.”

Chaudet, along with other aerospace executives, are skeptical that defense spending will increase enough to make a difference. The new majority might simply stop the decline in defense spending sooner than Democrats.

“I would hope that the Republican leadership would be in a mode of stopping the decline of the defense spending reductions,” said Aldridge of the Aerospace Corp. “But I don’t think the big boon for defense is in the cards.”

And some business executives aren’t sure that it would be wise to go back to the defense spending in the 1980s.

“No matter what happens, defense is no longer the 800-pound gorilla,” said Alan Schwartz, president of the South Bay Assn. of Chambers of Commerce. “It’s still a major portion of business in the South Bay, but it is no longer completely dominant. Even if they start restoring some of the cuts, it’s not going to go back to the level it once was.”

For now, Harman and her supporters are taking heed of one of her slogans from her freshman term: “Listen, then Lead.”

“This crowd will accomplish a good deal of the reform agenda that Congress needs,” Harman said. “But on substantive issues, the jury is out.”