Pringle Gets Coveted Panel Job on Finances : Legislature: Assembly power sharing gives other O.C. lawmakers plumb positions.

Assemblyman Curt Pringle was named chairman of the powerful Assembly Appropriations Committee on Thursday, a move that should increase Orange County’s clout in the Capitol and boost the lawmaker’s own political cachet.

The coup by the conservative Republican from Garden Grove was just one of several plumb committee assignments garnered by Orange County lawmakers under the Assembly’s new leadership system, which for the first time in years gives the GOP a share of power.

Assemblyman Ross Johnson (R-Placentia) was named vice chairman of the Rules Committee, the panel that under the Assembly’s new makeup inherits many of the powers once held by Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco).

Meanwhile, Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress) was named to chair the Health Committee, while Assemblyman Mickey Conroy (R-Orange) will chair the Utilities and Commerce Committee.

Several county lawmakers also received vice chairmanships. Assemblyman Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside) will be second in command at the influential Judiciary Committee, while freshman Assemblyman Jim Morrissey (R-Santa Ana) is vice chairman of the Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency and Economic Development Committee.

The delegation’s other freshman, Assemblywoman Marilyn C. Brewer (R-Newport Beach), is reportedly in line for a post on the Appropriations Committee, which is normally stocked with veteran lawmakers.

“I can’t remember any time when we had this many people in those positions,” said Dennis Carpenter, a former Orange County state senator who now is an influential Sacramento lobbyist. The county has had representatives serve as Assembly speaker years ago, Carpenter said, but has never had more than a couple of lawmakers head committees at one time.

A drawback for all of the county’s lawmakers is that under the Assembly’s new power-sharing rules, the chairs of committees could end up wielding less power than in past years.

Brown reclaimed the speakership with a controversial series of late-night maneuvers earlier this week, but as a concession to outraged Republicans pushed in new rules giving the GOP an equal number of committee chairmanships and memberships. In the past, Democrats have enjoyed a decided edge on Assembly committees, meaning the chairmen could virtually control what bills were approved.

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Under the new setup, committee leaders will be forced to undertake the difficult task of building bipartisan coalitions that could fracture, depending on the issue.

“It will not be quite the same as having unfettered power,” Carpenter noted. “Things are not going to be easy. The chair’s power is somewhat reduced from when they had an absolute majority.”

But after years as the outsiders looking in, Orange County’s lawmakers were not complaining.

Pringle stood as the biggest winner of all. As chairman of the Appropriations Committee, he will be in a position to wield influence over nearly every bill that goes through the Legislature. The committee handles any measure that deals with fiscal issues, which in a typical year would include upward of three quarters of all the legislation that rolls through the Capitol.

He also will acquire a huge staff that will probably number more than a dozen. In addition, the leader of the Appropriations Committee has also historically gotten sizable campaign contributions from a variety of special interests seeking to push through or kill certain bills.

For Pringle, who has been mentioned during the past year as a possible successor to Republican leader Jim Brulte, the extra campaign cash would allow him to aid Republican colleagues and solidify a base of support for any future leadership fights.

But his new power also comes in handy for Orange County at a time when myriad bills dealing with the county’s bankruptcy will be funneled through the Appropriations Committee.

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“I think now, more than ever, Orange County needs clout in Sacramento,” Pringle said. “We can begin to address many of the concerns now facing Orange County, from unfunded state mandates to the county’s present inability to contract out for services.”

Allen and Johnson also landed prime spots that should help the county on numerous issues, while also helping the two lawmakers on the political front.

Both are vying for the 35th Senate District seat vacated when Marian Bergeson was elected to the County Board of Supervisors. Their new committee posts both should help them reap campaign cash.

As second in command of the Rules Committee, Johnson will have a say in everything from selecting members of state boards and commissions to bottling up bills he deems unfavorable.

Allen, meanwhile, will, as head of the Health Committee, be able to weigh in on matters that are particularly pivotal in a county that is home to a number of health-care providers as well as firms that market new technology in the field.

“We have a lot of problems down there with health care,” said Allen, who had a seat on the committee for eight years before becoming chairwoman. “I’m very excited.”

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New Clout Orange County lawmakers in Sacramento earned more responsibility with the announcement of new Assembly committee chairmanships. The positions give them additional staff, a better chance to lead on policy issues and the opportunity to glean more campaign cash. Legislator: Doris Allen (R-Cypress) Committee Appointment: Health chair Committee Duties: Health *

Legislator: Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) Committee Appointment: Appropriations chair Committee Duties: Final gatekeeper for all spending bills *

Legislator: Mickey Conroy (R-Orange) Committee Appointment: Utilities and Commerce chair Committee Duties: Power companies, other utilities *

Legislator: Ross Johnson (R-Placentia) Committee Appointment: Rules vice chair Committee Duties: Makes key appointments; internal house matters *

Legislator: Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside) Committee Appointment: Judiciary vice chair Committee Duties: Legal issues *

Legislator: Jim Morrissey (R-Santa Ana) Committee Appointment: Consumer Protection vice chair Committee Duties: Economic development Source: California Assembly; Researched by ERIC BAILEY / Los Angeles Times