<i> A behind-the-scenes look at Orange County’s political life</i>

Irreverent humorist Michael Moore, the director of “Roger and Me” and “TV Nation,” has taken on Orange County. In his new book, “Downsize This!” Moore says that almost “everything bad” that has happened to the U.S. lately had an Orange County thread: Former President Richard Nixon, John Wayne, the major defense contractors, Disneyland, the John Birch Society, Proposition 187, Proposition 13 and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

His biggest salvos, however, are saved for Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove). Moore spends a whole chapter describing how he tried to get Dornan committed to a mental institution, relaying to hospital officials and doctors some of Dornan’s behavior and bombastic statements on and off the House floor. Moore did not succeed.

“Where does that leave us with B-1 Bob? Unprotected!” Moore concludes.

Through a spokesman, Dornan declined to comment.

The air up there: Washington officially shut off the hot air valve last week when President Clinton signed a bill sponsored by Rep. Christopher Cox (R--Newport Beach) to begin closing the National Helium Reserve.

The long-obsolete helium program--labeled by Cox as “the poster child of government waste”--cannot simply be shut down overnight because its 100-year reserve would cause a glut in the helium market.

Cox tried several times to get the program killed. A few years ago, the White House decided not to touch the helium reserve in Amarillo, Tex., in exchange for a budget vote from the Democratic congressman who represented the area. Last year, the phase-out was included in the budget bill that Clinton vetoed.

But when he signed the helium privatization bill, Clinton credited Vice President Al Gore’s National Performance Review for recommending the action. “The bill brings us closer to our goal of creating a government that works better and costs less,” Clinton said in a statement.

Tree huggers? Can it possibly be that local Reps. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) are going soft on the environment?

At a time when most conservation groups are crying foul over the GOP’s legislative agenda, those two congressmen are lightening up, judging by their recent marks on the League of Conservation Voters scorecard.

Royce received a 38 out of a possible 100 for his environmental voting record in 1996, while Rohrabacher was given a 31. Both scored 0 in 1995.

The county’s four other congressmen fared poorer, with two receiving 15 and two getting an 8 for 1996.

Actually, a spokeswoman for Taxpayers for Common Sense suggested, Royce and Rohrabacher scored well accidentally. Their votes to scuttle programs they thought were wasteful spending just happened to score as environmentally friendly, she said.

For example, Royce and Rohrabacher voted for a bill that called for ending government protections and subsidies to the sugar industry, which was backed by environmentalists who charge that sugar manufacturers increase water pollution and disrupt the ecosystem in the Florida Everglades, she said.

Royce said he was surprised that his voting record was “greener” this year according to the LCV scorecard, which he said lacks credibility because it “tends to be very partisan and distorted.”

“[But] I have always been committed to a cleaner, safer, healthier environment for our children and grandchildren,” Royce said.

Rohrabacher could not be reached for comment.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Environmental Scorecard

Rating based on possible 100%:

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Representative 1996 1995 Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach) 15 % 0 % Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) 8 0 Jay C. Kim (R-Diamond Bar) 15 8 Ron Packard (R-Oceanside) 8 0 Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) 31 0 Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) 38 0

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Source: League of Conservation Voters

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Bicoastal Curt: No offense to Chamber of Commerce mixers in Garden Grove, but Assembly Speaker Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) has gone uptown. He recently returned from a three-day jaunt with state Treasurer Matt Fong to New York for meetings with the big cuff links on Wall Street.

Fong and Pringle met with officials at the bond houses, rating agencies and major brokerage firms to deliver the message of California’s economic rebirth.

Might there have been a wee nudge for campaign donations as Pringle tries to maintain GOP control of the Assembly in this election year?

“That wasn’t the focus,” Pringle said. “The focus was to make sure they understand what progress we’re making here in California.”

As for the upcoming election, Pringle remains cautiously optimistic that Republicans will keep the Assembly. The best news he’s had are promises from GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole, House Speaker Newt Gingrich and other Republican kingpins that the national party won’t bail out of the Golden State a la the George Bush disappearing act in 1992.

“They all gave me a personal commitment,” Pringle said. “And there’s no indication they’re slowing up.”

Compiled by Times staff writer Len Hall, with contributions from staff writers Eric Bailey and Gebe Martinez and David Phinney of States News Service.

Politics ’96 appears every Sunday. Items can be mailed to Politics ‘96, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, or faxed to (714) 966-7711.