Key Legislators Plan Bipartisan Panels to Avoid Gridlock

In an unprecedented attempt to head off gridlock, the state’s top Republican and Democratic leaders agreed Thursday to immediately convene a series of 14 committees to search for common ground on some of the state’s most divisive issues.

The unique strategy will, in effect, create a dual track for major legislation heading through the Capitol. At the same time bills are navigating the normal committee process, they may also be considered by special committees consisting of members from both legislative bodies and both political parties.

The process is expected to generate more vigorous debate on key issues since either channel--the traditional or special committee routes--will be able to pass legislation to the floors of the Assembly and Senate.

Currently, for example, much of the major legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Assembly often dies in the Senate committees run by Democrats.

“Because of the partisan division between the houses, the potential for gridlock--for deadlock--is significant,” said Sandy Harrison, spokesman for Senate Democratic Leader Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward). “This gives us a better chance to reach bipartisan agreements. It allows us to spend four months, rather than four hours or four days, focusing on major issues.”

The leadership agreement came after a two-hour meeting Thursday afternoon of the so-called “Big Five”--Gov. Pete Wilson and the two top party leaders from both the Senate and the Assembly. Insiders said the leaders were motivated by a combination of fear and opportunity.

On the one hand, they are concerned that the two parties are further apart than normal on some major issues because this year Republicans seized control of the Assembly for the first time in 25 years. On the other hand, both parties have ambitious agendas on the table this year, and they are keenly aware of the damage done to their public image by their frequent gridlock.

“The governor and the legislative leaders had a very productive meeting,” said Ron Low, the governor’s deputy press secretary. “They agreed to a mutual set of priorities they want brought to the forefront.”

Wilson released a list of topics for the 14 committees that included taxes, tort reform, campaign laws, environmental regulations, prisons, water and local government financing. Some major topics, such as welfare and education, were not assigned to committees because officials said they already receive adequate attention in budget and policy hearings.

Officials said they expected that the idea would be widely supported by rank-and-file lawmakers because the legislative leaders approved the concept after sounding out their separate caucuses. But privately, they also expected that some members will be upset.

The idea has the potential to significantly increase the workload for individual legislators because they will be called on to staff the new committees. Each of the 14 conference committees will have six members, with equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats and Assembly and Senate members. In all, the committees will create 84 assignments for legislators.

Also, because the structure will breathe new life into bills that would otherwise be killed, officials said the opponents of some legislation are likely to complain. For the same reason, the idea will also diminish the power of committee leaders because it prevents them from being able to kill legislation.

Proponents said, however, that the structure impacts both parties equally.