Wilson Calls Special Session on Flood Aid : Relief: Action allows Assembly, Senate to expedite measures that could include low-interest loans, tax relief.

Responding to a series of flood-spawning Pacific storms that raked the state from North to South last week, Gov. Pete Wilson on Saturday called a special session of the Legislature to come to the aid of homes, communities and businesses laid waste by the punishing weather.

Relief measures providing low-interest loans, property tax relief and reimbursement to cities and counties for lost revenues could be approved at the special session, which will start Thursday and run concurrently with regular meetings of the two houses.

“All Californians should be assured that state government will continue to do everything in its power to speed assistance to those suffering from the terrible floods and damage suffered during this year’s storms,” Wilson said.

Wilson’s sudden call to legislators may also produce a political side effect: applying pressure on members of the Assembly to resolve their stalemated struggle to elect a Speaker. Normally, the Assembly is barred from conducting business until a Speaker is chosen.

However, legislative sources said they expect that the Assembly will be able to agree on flood relief legislation despite the speakership impasse because the members will put partisanship aside to address the pressing need for flood aid.

The Assembly and Senate are already scheduled to return Tuesday after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Wilson said he was asked to call the special session by Republicans and Democrats from both houses to find ways for the state to offer assistance to flood victims, in many cases as a supplement to federal disaster relief that is in the pipeline.

By taking up relief proposals in a special session, the Legislature will be able to place bills on a fast track toward approval and not wait for delays that apply to legislation handled in a regular session. Special session bills can be passed, signed into law by the governor and take effect immediately.

Wilson’s press secretary, Sean Walsh, said the governor is not proposing any specific bills for the Legislature to consider immediately. Walsh said the shape of the legislation will be determined after more complete estimates of flood damage and proposed solutions are obtained.

The federal government has declared 34 of California’s 58 counties disaster areas as a result of the floods, and the governor added Alameda, Modoc and San Diego counties to the request list Saturday.

According to a tally by the Associated Press, at least 11 people have been killed in flood-related incidents and there has been more than $300 million in storm damage statewide.

As for the Assembly’s internal problem, the speakership crisis started when the Republicans won a 41-39 majority in last year’s general election. Assemblyman Jim Brulte of Rancho Cucamonga appeared to be on the verge of being elected Speaker to replace Assemblyman Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), who had held the powerful post for 14 years, longer than any other person in California history.

But former Republican Assemblyman Paul Horcher of Diamond Bar, now an independent, bolted party ranks last month and voted for Brown for the top spot, which created a 40-40 deadlock. The latest attempts to resolve the crisis have involved talks among ranking members of possibly sharing the leadership. Those talks are expected to resume Tuesday and if successful could have the Assembly back to normal business by the time it convenes the special session Thursday.

Asked if calling the special session would apply some pressure to help resolve the speakership fight, Walsh said: “That is a legislative matter that (Assembly members) have to work out. We are just being responsive to the needs of the people of California who suffered flood damages.”

A Brulte press spokesman, Phil Perry, said: “It might put some pressure on the house to solve the leadership problem, but necessary flood relief legislation should easily get through, despite the current stalemate. The impasse should only be a minor impediment to getting it done.”

Press representatives of Democratic Assembly leader Brown could not reached for comment.

But Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) said: “Obviously, the need to provide tax relief to flood victims is paramount, and the sooner the better. We also should allow them to take it off their 1994 taxes so they don’t have to wait a full year. That can be done with urgency legislation that would take effect as soon as the governor signs the bill.

“I also think it puts some pressure on the Republicans in the speakership fight,” Katz said. “It puts them between a rock and a hard place, but we won’t let the speakership stalemate hold up the necessary flood control relief legislation.”

Karin Caves, a press spokeswoman for Senate President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward), agreed. “The Senate is ready to work with the governor to address the emergency caused by recent flooding. Sen. Lockyer is already consulting with various members about problems affecting their individual districts, and what responses need to be made as soon as possible.”

Wilson previously called special legislative sessions to deal with problems caused by the Oakland Hills fires in 1991, Southern California floods in 1992, and the Riverside and San Bernardino earthquakes the same year.

* NEW STORM: N. California storm is weaker, but floods Guerneville. A22