Driven to Negotiate

It’s still possible to break through the fog of dysfunction and political deadlock in state government, though sometimes it takes a big club to do so.

Majority Democrats negotiated with consumer groups and auto dealers last week to produce a bill offering consumer protections for used-car buyers, including the ability to return an auto within three days for a refund.

Last year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill with similar truth-in-lending provisions, but not the three-day refund. This year, Democrats clambered onto Schwarzenegger’s special-elections train, putting aboard a voter initiative with a far more stringent “Car Buyer’s Bill of Rights.”

Auto dealers who operate in multiple states came to the negotiating table with Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) and others to forestall the initiative, which could win and spread to other states.

Nunez held up the auto bill as an example of successful negotiations without resorting to the ballot, saying, “We owe it to the voters to try and work out our differences legislatively.” That was a self-serving political statement, but it’s also true.

The Assembly passed the bill 43 to 3 on Friday, with most Republicans not voting. The Senate is all but certain to approve it. Then the governor can catch this new spirit of governance and sign the compromise.

That’s one ballot measure down and too many to go. If Schwarzenegger sticks to his November special election plan, there will be a nasty and unenlightening battle royal between his business backers and the Democrats’ union supporters. Nunez has thrown the ball into Schwarzenegger’s tent. Governor, get into the game.