<i> A behind-the-scenes look at Orange County’s political life</i> : Dornan Takes Off Mouse Ears, Moves His Legislative Tail

During his last reelection campaign, Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) was criticized by his Democratic opponent, Mike Farber, for failing to win approval of any significant legislation during his previous eight terms in Congress. The only thing noteworthy in Dornan’s record, Farber claimed in a campaign flyer depicting Mickey Mouse ears, was a resolution honoring a Disneyland anniversary.

Dornan argued that the attack was pretty ratty, since Republicans rarely can pass legislation in Democrat-controlled Congresses.

So what’s he doing now that the GOP is in control? A lot.

Last week, the House approved a long list of Dornan’s legislative priorities in the area of national security. They include: requiring Russia to stop its offensive biological weapons program before the United States gives aid to help former Soviet states dismantle their nuclear weapons; prohibiting privately funded abortions at overseas military facilities; immediately discharging military personnel who test positive for HIV; suspending pay and other benefits to a member of the service convicted by court-martial; increasing the housing allowance for members of the military; and authorizing the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for veterans who served in El Salvador.

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Doris’ Political Gaffe: As the winds of recall whip against new Assembly Speaker Doris Allen, opponents are making much of her cozy relationship with Democrat kingpin Willie Brown and the other Democrats who elected her. But such PR problems for the Orange County Republican are only the beginning.

Right out of the chute, Allen proved that the inner game of politics may not be her forte. One of her first acts was to dump Assemblyman Fred Aguiar (R-Chino) from the Rules Committee after he refused to go along with new operating procedures that gave Democrats in the lower house substantial power despite a Republican majority.

Aguiar is someone Allen shouldn’t have picked on. He’s well-liked throughout the Capitol and--more important right now for the beleaguered Speaker--Aguiar is among the best Republican fund-raisers, routinely keeping a campaign war chest of more than $100,000 on hand. Insiders are predicting a fair amount of that money now will find its way into the recall campaign against Allen.

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Post Doris: Allen has held the speakership only two weeks, but some people are already trying to figure out what’s next for the adventurous politico. It’s crystal ball stuff, but all is fair in love and politics, so here two of the most amusing. Names have been withheld to protect the guilty:

* Some Republicans speculate that Allen, faced with defeat in a recall, would use the Speaker’s powers to appoint herself to a well-paying post on a governing board of one of the myriad state agencies and then resign from the Assembly.

* One Orange County Democrat suggests that Allen’s real desire is to use the speakership to raise money for a run against Republican arch-foe Ross Johnson, the Irvine state Senator who defeated her in a special election slugfest earlier this year. Johnson’s seat is up for grabs in the GOP primary in March.

Will either pan out? Of course not! But if they do, you heard it here first.

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Checkbook Ready? Vocally challenged Gov. Pete Wilson might not be ready to sing the aria from “Madama Butterfly” quite yet, but he’s not letting throat surgery stand in the way of wooing a few bucks next month from his Orange County fans.

Wilson’s presidential campaign committee is planning a $1,000-a-plate fund-raising dinner and general reception at the Irvine Hyatt Regency on July 27. For an additional $1,000 a person, one can gain entry to a private reception with the gubernatorial guy himself. And if you really want to impress friends, raise a mere $10,000 and you’ll be deemed a “Dinner Chairman,” giving you a preferred table for 10 and two VIP chairmen tickets.

With that kind of dinero flowing in, even the soar-throated Wilson might do some singing.

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Dollar Politics: Speaking of cash, just how wealthy is your congressman? The answer is contained in financial disclosure statements for 1994 released last week. The reports list the members’ assets--within broad ranges--that are in addition to their annual salaries of $133,600 and personal residences, as well as debts and gifts and travel paid by outside sources.

Rep. Jay Kim (R-Diamond Bar) received a filing extension until Aug. 14. But the rest offered an interesting bag of goodies:

* Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach). Travel highlights: Transportation to New York to appear on the HBO television show “Politically Incorrect.” Money market, retirement accounts, stocks and bonds: $282,014-$855,000. Stock sales: $3,003-$45,000. Dividends: $8,309-$34,600.

* Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove). Honoraria: $35 for a speech to the Cardinal Mindszenty Foundation. Charitable donation: AIDS Foundation of St. Louis. Travel highlights: Catholic Campaign for America paid for Dornan, family member to travel to Orlando, Fla.; Archdiocese of New York paid for New York trip for Dornan, family member; traveled to Manchester, N.H., at expense of New Hampshire Term Limits group; College Republican National Committee paid for trip to Oklahoma City. Congressional Credit Union account: $15,000-$50,000. Interest: $201-$1,000.

* Rep. Ron Packard (R-Oceanside). Honoraria: $2,000 for speech sponsored by American Assn. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Travel highlights: Chicago trip sponsored by American Assn. of Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons, including transportation, food and lodging. Stock, investments, retirement: $46,004-$165,000.

* Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach). Honoraria: $150 received for article written for the American Spectator. Retirement and investments: $3,005-$47,000. Dividends: $3,400. Travel highlights: Los Angeles to Santiago, Chile, including food and lodging paid for by Chile-U.S. Free Trade Agreement Council.

* Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton). Stock: $50,001-$100,000. Real estate sale: $100,001-$250,000. Dividends: $1,001-$2,500.

Compiled by Times staff writers Eric Bailey and Gebe Martinez.

Politics ’95 appears every Sunday.