A Vote for Doing the Job

Some political experts grumbled that this election wasn’t about anything because it lacked compelling national issues. But in fact, Tuesday’s balloting was about the core of the political system: governing. Voters are tired of constant political fighting. They want leaders who will just dig in and fix things.

True, there was no watershed shift of power nationally. But the implications of the Democratic victories, though modest in numbers, will reach well into the next century both in California and the nation.

President Clinton is politically stronger, even though people don’t like him much personally. The Republican leadership in Congress will have to reassess its combative, sometimes dismissive style and ideological agenda. Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush have improved their presidential stock for the 2000 elections. And Gov.-elect Gray Davis of California will take office with a voter mandate that surpasses even Ronald Reagan’s first election as governor in 1966.

By and large, voters chose moderate leaders who promoted issues that are important to the broad middle of the political spectrum. They wanted officeholders who would make the schools better, fix health care and Social Security, protect basic abortion rights and stiffen gun controls, especially on assault weapons. Exit polls registered strong disapproval of Republican handling of the Clinton sex scandal and impeachment investigation, right alongside distaste for Clinton’s behavior. Fifty-seven percent said Congress should drop the impeachment inquiry entirely.

House Republicans need to look critically at the leadership of Speaker Newt Gingrich, whose flawed campaign strategy, focusing on Clinton, nearly cost the GOP control of the lower chamber. If Gingrich and company fail to change their confrontational style, Republican moderates will find it increasingly comfortable to work with Democrats and the White House on needed legislation, including campaign finance reform, education and gun control.

Campaign reform is alive again for 1999, now that Sen. Russell D. Feingold (D-Wis.) has demonstrated that banning unlimited “soft money” contributions will not necessarily destroy an incumbent’s political future. Feingold, a co-sponsor of reform legislation that has repeatedly been rejected by Senate leaders, refused to accept such funds. His opponent did take the money and vastly outspent him. It was a gamble, but Feingold won reelection.

In California, voters clearly approved of Davis’ promise to make education reform his first priority. There has been concern that Davis’ massive financial support by the California Teachers’ Assn. would keep him from pushing needed education reforms that the union opposes, including removal of near-absolute job protections. But his 20-point margin of victory should give Davis the freedom to act boldly, even if it means defying the teachers on some issues.

Voters also gave education a big boost with overwhelming passage of Proposition 1A, a $9-billion statewide bond issue to finance school construction and repair. Most of the money must be matched by local funds, which is often difficult because of the two-thirds margin required to approve local school bonds. One urgent priority for Davis next year should be to work with the Legislature on a ballot measure that would reduce the threshold to a simple majority.

Scores of other issues that have been pushed aside in recent years--from bad roads to HMO reform--await the attention of the new administration in Sacramento. But those who are anxious for change will have to learn patience. Davis made it clear Wednesday he will be deliberative and restrained, and tight with the state’s purse strings. That sounds just fine.