GOP House Freshmen Prepare for Final Push

They went to Washington as members of one of the most notable freshman House classes in decades.

The state’s four new GOP House members--Reps. George Radanovich of Mariposa, Sonny Bono of Palm Springs, Andrea Seastrand of Shell Beach and Brian Bilbray of San Diego--were bent on reform. Today, the focus is also on November and reelection.

After meeting voters in their districts and vacationing over the Fouth of July, they return to Washington this week for the final, steamy, hectic months of their rapidly ending first terms.

But as members of the Class of ‘94--the one that gleefully ushered the Democrats out of power after a 40-year reign--these freshmen carry an unusual load of expectation.

“The people are frustrated about why the Republicans aren’t responding to the issues raised in the ad campaigns funded by the Democrats and AFL-CIO money,” said Radanovich, a vintner who was elected GOP class president earlier this year. “They realize there’s a ton of stuff left to be done and are waiting for the agenda that we started to resume.”

That agenda was, of course, the “contract with America,” a Republican legislative manifesto calling for, among other things, a balanced budget, welfare reform, tax cuts and congressional reform.

Some bills became law, some were vetoed and many became bogged down in partisan bickering so vicious that it brought the federal government to a virtual standstill.

For the House freshmen, who hectored their leaders to hold the line on contract items, it was an education in political hardball.

“I wish that we had been more successful in getting the president to keep his word and sign a balanced-budget act,” Radanovich said somewhat ruefully. But Radanovich, who knocked off Democratic incumbent Richard H. Lehman by 18 percentage points, is not considered to be in trouble in his Central Valley district, which includes most of Fresno.

“As long as I pay attention to [reforming] the Endangered Species Act and water reform . . . I should be OK,” Radanovich said. “But that won’t get done unless we have a new person in the White House.”

For Bilbray, it is a different story. He defeated Democratic incumbent Lynn Schenk by just 3 percentage points while pulling down only 49% of the vote. In a district famous for its independent streak, Bilbray must walk a trickier path.

Take House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) for instance.

“He still has real high negatives [in the district],” Bilbray said. “When he’s right I support him; when he’s wrong, I have been the first one to step out [of line]. I took him on over reimbursement to hospitals for emergency health care for illegal aliens. That almost cost me everything I had, but we were able to pull that one out.”

Bilbray loves to tout his political independence: “I get a lot of positive response for being so independent. People are sick and tired of partisanship.”

He pointed to “tough, high-profile votes” that show his willingness to stray from the party line when necessary.

Bilbray voted against an effort to repeal the assault weapons ban and even sided with San Diego Democratic Rep. Bob Filner in seeking funds for a rail line from the port of San Diego to Imperial County.

“My attitude is that he may be wrong most of the time but, doggone it, he can be right sometimes too. A broken clock is right twice a day,” tweaked Bilbray. “People want their congressman to represent them, not the party. They elect an individual affiliated with the party . . . but want independence too.”

The Fourth of July break also gives members a chance to see more of their families for a week.

Bono opted for a few days of family rejuvenation in Rehoboth Beach, Del.

The holiday break also called for visits from other members of Congress, often to attend fund-raisers or just to meet with targeted constituent groups.

Rep. Thomas J. Bliley (R-Va.), chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee on which Bilbray sits, visited with biotech and pharmaceutical officials in the San Diego region, a center for such high-tech industries.

House GOP Conference Chairman Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) spent time in Radanovich’s district, meeting with volunteers and supporters.

And the holiday brought its own special patriotic events.

Seastrand was to tour a visiting Navy ship in Santa Barbara’s harbor. Also on her holiday agenda was a parade in Solvang and other stops in Montecito and Santa Barbara.

Radanovich spoke at a cemetery service in Mariposa. Bilbray attended the same Fourth of July celebration he has been joining for the past 20 years.

“We take the boat to Glorietta Bay next to the [Hotel Del Coronado],” Bilbray said. “I walk in the parade in the morning and then go back to the boat to watch the fireworks at night.

“[The parade] is probably the best polling you will ever do. They’ll let you know how they feel about you real quick.”

Times staff writer Bob Sipchen contributed to this report.