Brass-Tacks Days in Sacramento

The pomp and festivity of a new administration and a new Legislature taking office in Sacramento are finally over. Now the trench work of governing begins. With California’s first Democratic governor in 16 years in place and with Democrats enjoying increased majorities in both houses, some have hoped for a flurry of legislation in these initial months. There is a mountain of built-up demand in the form of bills passed by the Legislature in recent years but vetoed by Republican Gov. Pete Wilson. But don’t count on any 100 days of whirlwind lawmaking.

Progress is needed in the next two months on education reform, Gov. Gray Davis’ priority issue now before a concurrent special session of the Legislature. The rest of a heavy agenda will take more time and deliberation.

Furthermore, much of what happens in the Capitol this year will depend on how much money the state has to spend. The budget is more than just a fiscal document. It is the engine that often drives state policy. Davis’ present budget is balanced on some risky assumptions. New revenue projections in May will provide a better budget picture.

The Legislature should reject a tactic it has used in the past--delaying action on other key issues because they might become budget bargaining points with the chief executive; with a Democratic majority and a Democratic governor, that should not be necessary this year.

The Democratic legislative leaders--Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President Pro Tem John L. Burton (D-San Francisco)--have been team players so far in giving priority to Davis’ education reform plan. But one of the uncertainties of this new era of Democratic dominance will be the evolution of their relationships. When Wilson was governor, Democratic lawmakers did not hesitate to send him party-agenda bills they knew he would veto. They did it to make political points. If they want to maintain a strong relationship with Davis, however, Democrats should be careful about sending legislation that would put the governor on the spot, risking alienation of one part of his political base if he signs a bill and another if he vetoes.

Take the issue of sanctioning some form of gay marriage. While Davis generally favors gay rights, he has said he does not think California is ready for such a step. He would, however, approve health care benefits for domestic partners. Other tricky items for Davis, who wants to be friendly to business, include Democratic demands for restoration of overtime for working longer than an eight-hour day and a raise in the minimum wage. He supports the overtime provision but no doubt would prefer to sign a bill also making some concession to business. Davis is noncommittal on raising the minimum wage.

A dozen or more other issues will demand action this year. They include restrictions on assault weapons and cheap handguns, health care reform, proposed water and parks bond issues, Indian casinos, a state employee pay raise and a variety of environmental matters, including revival of the state’s lapsed Superfund law.

For now, education is the key issue. But the sooner the legislators get to work on prioritizing other matters, the better the opportunity to avoid a jam-up of bills at the end of the session--and the better chance that Sacramento can take action on a legislative agenda that has been thought through.