Assembly Review

* I was pleased to see The Times recognize the necessity for performance audits in its editorial “Performance Counts” (Aug. 31).

Unfortunately, the state Legislature remains exempt from the type of performance audit endorsed by you and required of every other branch of state government. Few, if any, members of the state Assembly are privy to the details as to how the approximately $75 million appropriated to fund the Assembly is spent.

A performance audit of the Assembly’s finances would review the management and allocation of the Assembly’s resources. Most important, a performance audit would focus on the effectiveness, efficiency and economy of the Assembly’s expenditures, and, no doubt, save the taxpayers of California a sizable sum.

It is for this reason that I introduced House Resolution No. 13, requiring the Assembly Rules Committee to contract with a recognized private accounting firm to conduct a performance audit of the Legislature’s lower house. I was pleased when this measure was adopted by the Assembly on a 61-5 vote.

Unfortunately, the Assembly Rules Committee has not fulfilled its obligation to set the terms of the performance audit, and the Oct. 15 deadline established by a vote of the Assembly for the completion of the audit will most likely be ignored.

BROOKS FIRESTONE

Assembly, R-Los Olivos