<i> A behind-the-scenes look at Orange County’s political life</i> : Dornan Smolders Over Bar Assn.’s Opposition to Flag Desecration Bill

The national symbol of unity is dividing the lawyers and the politicians. A host of Congress members, including several from Orange County, saluted a proposed constitutional amendment this week that bans the desecration of the American flag.

The proposal was introduced Tuesday in the House of Representatives and was co-sponsored by Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove). Also backing the amendment were Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton), Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach). Even Sen. Dianne Feinstein jumped on the flag protection bandwagon.

But the American Bar Assn., which has spoken out against such legislation, opposes the amendment. The bar concurs with a 1989 U.S. Supreme Court decision that includes flag burning among the freedoms of expression protected by the U.S. Constitution.

Dornan called the bar’s viewpoint “cowardly.”

“ABA’s attempts to disguise the importance of this legislation is insulting,” he said. “When James Madison, George Mason and our other Founding Fathers wrote the Bill of Rights, they never intended to dishonor the memories of over 1 million Americans who have lost their lives in service under Old Glory.”

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Sales Tax Votes

With Orange County officials poised to place a sales tax measure on a special June ballot, Politics ’95 takes a look at how the county voted on the last two local tax measures. While rejecting Measure J in May, 1991, voters passed Measure M in November, 1990. A breakdown of the voting by supervisorial district:

Measure M Measure J District Yes No Yes No Total Vote 353,074 291,182 49,062 135,827 District 1 44,419 41,250 7,015 16,400 District 2 65,710 59,620 8,976 22,873 District 3 85,756 69,596 10,064 36,188 District 4 50,005 47,312 6,031 24,580 District 5 107,184 73,404 16,976 35,786

Source: Orange County registrar of voters office

Taxing history: Orange County’s conservatives pride themselves as being rabidly anti-tax. Indeed, some residents are preparing for the ‘mother of all tax battles’ to annihilate a proposed half-cent sales tax that may appear on the June ballot and is designed to help save the county from further financial ruin.

But recent county tax measures suggest that the voters’ bark may be worse than their bite. True, in May, 1991, voters resoundingly rejected Measure J, a half-cent sales tax increase that would have paid for the construction of more jails and courts.

But in November, 1990, voters embraced Measure M, a half-cent sales tax increase for transportation improvements. And most recently, Orange County joined state voters in narrowly approving Proposition 172, a statewide initiative to fund law enforcement and other public safety improvements. Orange County voted 215,028 to 196,492 in favor of Prop. 172.

What will happen in June? Stay tuned.

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We got you, babe: When the task is entertainment, cerebral Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach) may not spring to mind. But the former securities lawyer is teaming up with onetime pop star Rep. Sonny Bono (R-Palm Springs) to open a direct line between Hollywood and Congress.

Tapped by the freshman Bono for the still unofficial House Entertainment Task Force, Cox and other lawmakers will give the industry a forum to air concerns on topics such as copyright protection and industry regulation.

“We are seeking to take an industry in which America is already a leader and help it become even more so international,” said Cox, who will address the Motion Picture Assn. of America next week.

Members of Congress also hope to raise Hollywood’s awareness of the industry’s influence on society, a Bono spokesman said, adding that lawmakers will not try to dictate program content.

Cox, who spends much of his time grinding over the details of securities regulation and tort reform, said it’s only natural that he would join the task force, given the entertainment industry’s economic impact in Orange County.

The group received the blessing of Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) last week, though he has yet to officially appoint its membership. The task force recently hosted entertainment executives, including four from the Southern California-based Walt Disney Co., at a Capitol Hill breakfast.

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Past is prologue: Orange County’s bankruptcy continues to be the talk of Capitol Hill any time the subject of securities fraud comes up. And during one such discussion last week, San Jose City Atty. Jane R. Gallo relayed how her city won its lawsuit against 13 brokerage firms in a case with “absolutely shocking parallels” to Orange County’s.

Testifying against a U.S. Senate bill that would make it harder for investors to file securities fraud class-action lawsuits--and would have prevented San Jose from going to court had the law been in effect--Gallo offered some insight into the relationship between the brokers and the city’s portfolio managers.

The treasurer and investment officer spoke to the brokers “many times a day,” beginning at 6 a.m., with the brokers paying for direct telephone lines, Gallo said.

“These city employees viewed the brokers as their agents and friends and trusted them completely,” according to her statement filed with the securities subcommittee.

The city had to fight its case without the help of these key employees, she said.

“Orange County will have the same kind of difficulty,” Gallo told the Senate panel. “The employees who were involved in these transactions lost their jobs, are under a cloud, and are protecting themselves.”

Compiled by Times staff writer Martin Miller, with contributions from staff writer Gebe Martinez and Lisa Richwine of States News Service.

Politics ’95 appears every Sunday.