Davis Wins a Vow of Bipartisan Support

With the post-impeachment Congress motivated to act on new issues, Gov. Gray Davis won a bipartisan pledge of support Tuesday from California representatives eager to get back to work on federal policy.

The Republican support was a welcome sign for Democrat Davis, who has promised to lead as a political centrist but who also is still remembered by the GOP as an aide to former Democratic Gov. Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown Jr.

After meeting for nearly an hour with 39 of California’s 52 representatives, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands), head of the state’s GOP caucus, said, “It’s a whole new ballgame.”

“This governor came in to get acquainted . . . [and] he has [indicated] a very intense interest in communicating on a [bipartisan] two-way street,” Lewis told reporters. “This initial effort is very welcome, and it’s a great beginning.”

Davis was lucky on his appeal’s timing.

The California congressional delegation--with 28 Democrats and 24 Republicans--has recently stepped up its cooperative efforts because its internal divisions were preventing the state from winning its fair share of federal services and money.

The pressure for cooperation escalated with the impeachment of President Clinton by the House and with public opinion polls showing that voters were unhappy with the highly politicized environment in Washington.

So when Davis began the closed-door meeting Tuesday, he struck a diplomatic note. He reminded the 18 Republicans in attendance about a promise he made in his inaugural address to “govern from the center.”

“I think we had one of the strongest turnouts we have ever had,” said Rep. Sam Farr (D-Monterey), head of the California Democratic caucus, in describing the meeting. “It was an upbeat mood. There was not a disagreement in the room. . . . Today was about emphasizing the positive--that we are all Californians and that we have more in common than we have in differences.”

The meeting in a basement conference room at the U.S. Capitol was the first time the California delegation has gathered since the November election. Organizers attributed much of the interest to a high level of curiosity about the new governor, who will play a major role in redrawing the state’s congressional districts after the 2000 census.

Davis noted that he is well acquainted with Farr and Lewis because all three were state legislators in Sacramento. “We have worked on a range of specific policy items over the last two decades,” Davis said. “That gets you a long way down the road for starters.”

But other lawmakers said that, although they know of Davis’ political background, they are not well acquainted with him, and they admitted uncertainty about his politics.

Republicans were heartened to hear through the grapevine that Davis rejected a request from Democratic leaders to act as his party’s attack dog during his four-day visit to Washington by criticizing the GOP in his public comments.

“I think we are very guarded,” said Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-San Diego), one of the delegation’s conservative members. “But I think this is a period of growing. I think both of us can show that we can work together on those issues.”

Davis was in Washington this week to attend the winter meeting of the National Governors Assn. But he skipped most of the public meetings at the conference and instead lobbied federal officials to send more money to California.

The state budget Davis proposed last month is balanced with $432 million in federal funds that have not yet been approved. Davis talked about the money with President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, as well as with four Cabinet secretaries and the state’s congressional delegation.

“Davis’ agenda was not unusual,” said one senior White House official. “But it was perhaps a bit larger than most. . . . These things have to be won on the merits.”

The governor acknowledged that some of the money may be difficult to obtain. But Lewis pledged that California Republicans would join Democrats in helping the governor’s cause.

“Dollars are one of the things that can pull us together,” he said. “I’m optimistic about what can happen if we really help together.”

Davis returned to California Tuesday night empty-handed, as none of his requests have been approved. But the governor said he was confident that most--if not all--of the money will be obtained.

“Certainly, before June, there will be some clear evidence that this was a successful trip,” Davis said. “We got a lot done. And I think we have built a new beginning with the delegation. I was very pleased.”