Stop Bickering and Let’s Party

One of the pettier partisan spats to hit Sacramento in recent years is the flap over the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the 1848-49 Gold Rush and California’s admission to statehood on Sept. 9, 1850.

Democrats in the Legislature circulated a report accusing Republican Secretary of State Bill Jones of bungled management of the California Sesquicentennial Commission. Jones retorted that the criticism was a partisan hatchet job.

Then-Gov. Pete Wilson asked Jones last year to salvage the commission after it foundered in its early months. Now, Democrats have eliminated $963,000 in commission funds from Jones’ budget. He has attempted repeatedly to involve Democratic Gov. Gray Davis in the celebration, especially since prospective sponsors are reluctant to donate until they have some sign of Davis’ interest. But Davis has shunned the sesquicentennial as if it were radioactive.

The Sacramento buzz is that Democrats want to embarrass Jones because he is a potential candidate for governor in 2002. That’s ridiculous. The problem from the start was that Wilson wanted the celebration run like the Los Angeles Olympics, paid for by private donations, but sponsors were skittish because of the lack of a state financial commitment.

California deserves a lively, nonpartisan birthday celebration during the coming year. Davis and Jones should put an end to their bickering and work together toward that end.