THE ASSEMBLY’S NEW SPEAKER : Angry GOP Expects Brown to Keep Power : Assembly: Republicans contend he may use new leadership rule to retain clout. It says a Speaker emeritus may be assigned duties by the Speaker.

Willie Brown isn’t Speaker anymore. Instead, under a new set of rules Democrats rammed through the Assembly on Monday, Brown is Speaker emeritus. What exactly that means is not entirely clear, but angry Republicans think they know: It keeps Brown’s hands on the levers of power.

Since Brown no longer is Speaker, he said he will vacate the ornate office of the Speaker. But as Speaker emeritus, Brown (D-San Francisco) is expected to move into Assembly Republican Leader Jim Brulte’s spacious office one floor above. Brown also will keep most, if not all, of his large staff and a salary commensurate with being Democratic leader of the lower house. And maybe even more.

Adding to the insult to Republicans, Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress), the new Speaker, is forcing Brulte to move into the vacant office of former Assemblyman Paul Horcher, who was recalled last month. He was the Diamond Bar Republican who deserted the GOP and voted for Brown as Speaker in December, denying Brulte the post that he thought he had locked up.

“This is a sad day for the people of California,” said Assemblyman Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove). “This [rule] could allow Willie Brown to continue to have many of the same powers that he has now, for example, like appointing people to various committees. . . . This also very likely means that Willie will continue to be in power throughout his mayoral campaign.”

The new post was created by all 39 Democrats and Allen as part of the 40-vote deal that led to Allen’s ascension as Assembly Speaker and the adoption of new, internal lower-house rules.

The rule allowing for a Speaker emeritus is one sentence long and simple enough:

“Any member, having served the Assembly in the capacity of Speaker shall, subsequent to that service, be known as the Speaker emeritus, and may perform such functions and duties as assigned by the Speaker.”

In effect, new Speaker Allen can give any powers that she wants to Speaker emeritus Brown. The GOP, though, is deeply troubled, as much for what the rule doesn’t say as for what it does. In their vision, Brown continues to ride the political plain unimpeded by the lack of a Democratic majority.

Assemblyman Jim Battin (R-Palm Desert) said, “It is unfortunate that Ms. Allen did that [accepted the new rules] in order to get the votes for the speakership, but that is what happened.”

“This is junta time, and it is the law of the jungle,” Assemblyman David Knowles (R-Placerville) said of the new rules, including the Speaker emeritus position.

Not surprisingly, Democrats hailed the decision.

“I don’t know why the Republicans are so upset,” said Assemblyman Byron D. Sher (D-Palo Alto). “There are no particular duties assigned to the Speaker emeritus. This is simply a way to recognize Willie’s long service as Speaker. It may just turn out to be an honorary title if the new Speaker chooses not to take advantage of his experience.”