Assembly Works Toward Plan for Power-Sharing

Assembly Democrats and Republicans worked toward a fragile power-sharing accord Wednesday that would have the parties splitting committee assignments, legislative staff and perquisites equally as long as neither side can obtain a clear majority of 41 seats, according to several lawmakers involved in the negotiations.

The two sides met privately throughout the day and were expected to resume their discussions today. An accord would allow the Assembly to consider legislation and avoid a choking impasse.

A power-sharing plan would be unprecedented in the Assembly, according to the chief clerk. As discussed Wednesday, the plan essentially would abolish the post of Speaker as it now exists and create a more powerful Rules Committee. The new Rules Committee would have equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats and be co-chaired by the Assembly’s Republican and Democratic leaders.

“We have agreement on the broad concepts,” said Assembly GOP leader Jim Brulte shortly after the Assembly adjourned for the day. “We’re working on the fine details.” He said those details included committee representation and chairmanships.

As he adjourned the lower house, Democratic leader Willie Brown said that, as a result of the discussions, he was optimistic that a deal was within reach--a pact that appears certain to end his 14-year tenure as Speaker.

The private discussions Wednesday amounted to the Republicans’ first acknowledgment that they had failed to persuade a single Democrat to bolt the party and vote for a Republican as Speaker.

“The most important thing is that Republicans are negotiating a bipartisan sharing,” said Assemblyman Louis Caldera (D-Los Angeles). “They had to do a reality check and own up to the fact that they didn’t have 41 votes.”

Still, Republicans were touting the possible deal as a victory.

“It’s a win for the Republicans,” said Assemblyman Larry Bowler (R-Elk Grove), because Republicans probably would get a majority of 24 committee chairmanships.

With Republicans holding 40 seats to the Democrats’ 39 and one independent, Brown and Brulte negotiated by phone--and tried to persuade their partisans to agree to terms.

Even as Brown and Brulte worked on a temporary power-sharing arrangement, Republicans pressed ahead with an attempt to recall wayward Paul Horcher of Diamond Bar. Horcher, now an independent, created the deadlock over the speakership when he renounced the GOP and voted to retain Brown as Speaker last month.

If the recall succeeds and Horcher is replaced by a Republican, the GOP could use what would be a 41-39 majority to elect a Speaker, though with less authority than Brown had, Brulte says.

Under an earlier proposal by Brulte, a Republican-controlled Rules Committee, headed by the new Speaker--a position Brulte still expects to have within a few months--would remain the main source of power in the house, and ensure “genuine proportionality on all committees, as well as a fair and even distribution of all resources.”

The deal on Wednesday was being brokered as Republicans and Democrats faced the prospect of a drawn-out fight for control of the lower house--a battle they assume would increase voter antipathy toward Sacramento.

Under the plan, the Rules Committee would take over most powers currently held by the Speaker. Each party would have four seats, and party leaders would serve as the committee’s co-chairs--at least until one party managed to obtain a 41st vote to elect a Speaker.

The Assembly Rules Committee would resemble the Senate Rules Committee, and would decide on appointments that traditionally have been made by Speaker. It also would assign bills to various policy committees.

Under one proposal being discussed, Republicans would chair 13 of 24 policy committees, and Democrats would control the other 11. In such a system, controversial bills probably would have to win approval in at least two policy committees.

The Ways and Means Committee, the single most powerful panel in the current system, would be split, with one new committee handling bills that require expenditure of tax money, and one overseeing the annual budget. The state Senate already has two fiscal committees.

Both sides appeared to agree that the annual $73-million Assembly budget, staff, committee consultants and other resources would be divided equally among the parties.

As part of the deal, Brown said he and the Democrats would drop plans to oust Republican Richard Mountjoy of Arcadia from the Assembly. Mountjoy was elected to the Assembly on Nov. 8 and simultaneously won a special election to a state Senate seat vacated by imprisoned former Sen. Frank Hill.

Earlier, Brown had contended that Mountjoy could not vote for Speaker and then leave to take his Senate seat. Brown threatened to engineer Mountjoy’s removal from the Assembly, a move that Republicans vowed to fight.

“An effort is being made to do house organization in a fashion that will please 50 to 60 members,” Brown said. “That means Mr. Mountjoy’s membership in this house would not be relevant.”

Brown said Wednesday that he hoped the accord would end Republican threats to seek the recall of as many as five Democrats who voted for Brown as Speaker last month. Assembly Republicans already had been downplaying the recalls of Democrats in recent days.

But while Brown also said he hoped pressure for a Horcher recall would dissipate, Assembly Republicans appeared intent on punishing the former Republican.

If Horcher is recalled, Democrats acknowledge, Republicans probably would obtain a 41-seat majority in the 80-member lower house later this year and could elect a Speaker, presumably Brulte.

Under Brulte’s proposal, Republicans could then change committee chairs and give Republicans a majority on most if not all policy committees. Democrats were holding out for a pledge that committees would not be disrupted in midyear.

“The stability of the house is very important,” said Assemblyman Robert Campbell (D-Martinez).

As leverage, Democrats note, they, along with Horcher, would have a 40-39 edge once Mountjoy leaves the Assembly for the Senate, and could elect a Speaker. But Democrats said in interviews that any Speaker elected by such a slim margin would be weak, and power would continue to reside in the newly bipartisan Rules Committee.

Further complicating the balance of power, Republican Assembly members Ross Johnson and Doris Allen are considering running for the Orange County state Senate seat vacated by Marian Bergeson, who has joined the Board of Supervisors.

If either wins, the number of Republicans in the Assembly would drop to 38, at least until special elections are held to select a replacement. Although some Democratic strategists hold out hope that an independent or conservative Democrat could win the Mountjoy seat, other Democrats assume that Mountjoy and Johnson or Allen would be replaced by Republicans.

Democrats and Republicans alike said they were motivated by a desire to show voters that the Legislature can solve its internal problems.

“I don’t want us to just sit around and look at each other for three months and waste the taxpayers’ money,” said Assemblyman Jan Goldsmith (R-Poway). Said Democrat Campbell: “We have to find a way to mend the reputation of the Legislature.”