Assembly’s Balancing Act Benefits Valley : 26 committees are split evenly between parties, creating new clout for area lawmakers

The early line had it that the Republicans would have full control of the state Assembly for the first time in 30 years, and that the legislative clout of the San Fernando Valley and its environs would suffer greatly as a result.

Well, by now we know that Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) managed to win the Assembly speakership, and that heir apparent Jim Brulte (R-Rancho Cucamonga) lost.

Now, Speaker Brown’s unusual power-sharing arrangement, in which the leadership of the Assembly’s 26 committees is split evenly between the two parties, has created new clout for our region and preserved power in important areas.

Richard Katz (D-Sylmar), for example, must still leave the Assembly in 1996 because of term limits. But the power-sharing arrangement has allowed Katz to make the most of his remaining time by holding on to the chairmanship of the House Transportation Committee. That’s good news for the Valley.

Assemblywoman Barbara Friedman (D-North Hollywood) was named vice chairwoman of the Health Committee. In a surprise move, freshman Wally Knox (D-Los Angeles) becomes the new Labor and Employment Committee chairman. Newcomer Sheila J. Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) joins the prestigious judiciary and public safety committees.

Area Republicans gained as well. Sophomore James E. Rogan (R-Glendale) proved he was a rising star when his party named him as its choice for speaker pro tem. The same rising star status can also be placed on Paula L. Boland (R-Granada Hills). She was on the special 12-member negotiating team empowered to resolve the speakership crisis (the team failed, however), and was her party’s choice for the chairwomanship of the Public Safety Committee.

We must confess, however, that one of Boland’s first legislative gambits this year is a lousy one. Boland would eliminate the office of lieutenant governor, turning over the functions of the office to the attorney general. Aside from leaving Boland open to charges of pure partisanship (Lt. Gov. Gray Davis is a Democrat. Gov. Pete Wilson and Atty. Gen. Dan Lundgren are Republicans), it’s just a bad idea.

It’s true that the lieutenant governor has just one real duty as long as the governor is in the state and healthy. That is to cast tie-breaking votes in the state Senate. But the best have brought credibility and meaning to the office. We note here Leo T. McCarthy’s work in the areas of nursing home reform and toxic waste legislation.

Moreover, the attorney general is the state’s chief law enforcement officer. That’s a full-time job that would only be hampered by additional duties and responsibilities.