California and the West : In Final Days, Tempers Grow Short

His patience worn thin and his anger rising, Assemblyman Richard Floyd had had enough.

With fire in his eye, the balding Wilmington Democrat stormed to his seat to unleash a barrage of criticism at Republicans over transportation proposals that conflict with a Democratic plan.

“The Republican vision is: Go get a mule and a worn-out old cart” to get people where they need to go, Floyd bellowed.

It’s silly season in the Legislature, especially in the Assembly.

With only days left on this year’s state legislative calendar, the strain of countless hours of lawmaking and bitter battles over philosophy is starting to take its toll.

Lawmakers face hundreds of bills before adjourning next Thursday, as well as lobbyists breathing down their necks and aides beseeching them to wrap it up so they have more time for fund-raising and politicking.

Floyd, who seems to revel in his role as legislative bad boy, is no stranger to controversy. He has been admonished in the past for using profanity on the Assembly floor (the lower house typically is rowdier than the Senate, where decorum and collegiality reign).

When Floyd signaled his desire to speak, lawmakers were debating whether to send a massive Democrat-sponsored transportation bond proposal to a joint Assembly-Senate committee.

Minutes earlier, Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Northridge) had failed in an attempt to add an amendment to use sales tax collected on gasoline to fund highway construction. Floyd, who often has sparred with McClintock, rose to assail the GOP transit plan:

“The Republican vision is apparently: Don’t fix the potholes. . . . Don’t take care of the bridges. Don’t address the earthquake damage.”

Assemblyman George House (R-Hughson), a former California Highway Patrol commander, responded, dismissing Floyd’s complaint by saying that his Democratic colleague simply wasn’t telling the truth when he said Republicans want to return to outmoded transportation.

Taking umbrage at House’s tone and the implication that he’s a liar, Floyd interrupted and was again granted the floor. “I don’t mind what [House] calls me,” Floyd said. “If he tempers his voice a little bit, he can call me all those things he wants . . . [but] do it personally. I’ll meet you out back, or do it quietly.”

House shot back that he had merely called Floyd by his name. “I don’t use filthy language on this floor,” said House, who didn’t respond to Floyd’s challenge to meet him outside.

Debate Over Dance Studio Fees

Another debate erupted over a measure designed to lift the current limit of $3,750 on contracts for dance lessons. Dance studios have been regulated by the state for 30 years, in the wake of consumer complaints in the 1960s.

Assemblyman John Longville (D-Rialto) sought to interject a moment of levity before lawmakers sent the measure, AB 648, sponsored by Arthur Murray International and introduced by Assemblyman Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks), to Gov. Gray Davis for his consideration.

“My libertarian streak tells me that . . . the danger of people dancing is relatively modest on the overall scale of things,” cracked Longville.

Other legislators were ready with a barb Wednesday as well. In an Assembly Appropriations Committee meeting, Sen. Don Perata (D-Alameda), lobbying his lower house colleagues for one of his bills, was trying to make a point about gradual change. “If you go on a diet, you don’t lose 50 pounds in one day,” he said.

Committee Chairwoman Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) didn’t miss a beat. “Cut off your head, Mr. Perata, and you would,” she quipped.

Some serious business with broad implications was transacted Wednesday too.

The Assembly approved a measure, SB 139, by Sen. Ross Johnson (R-Irvine), on a 66-4 vote that would make it a crime to conceal the body of someone who died accidentally. The legislation, now heading to the Senate, grew out of the accidental shooting death of a young Newport Beach entrepreneur about four years ago.

As the session ended in the early afternoon, lawmakers were focused on getting lunch or finding out when committees would meet. Some were about to rush off to meet with Davis.

But no one could leave the Assembly floor before Assemblyman Anthony Pescetti (R-Elk Grove) collared them. With a basketball in hand, Pescetti was rounding up as many members as possible to autograph the ball to give to the new owners of the Sacramento Kings NBA franchise.

“It’s just to welcome them to Sacramento,” he said.

* Times staff writer Amy Pyle contributed to this story.