Voters like two-part harmony by Democrats and governor

The voters have delivered another message: They like the bipartisan cooperation between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature. And they expect it to continue.

This latest message is an elaboration of the one that many politicians -- at least the reelected governor and Democratic legislative leaders -- thought voters sent Nov. 7. It’s not clear what Republican legislators thought.

The new missive was delivered through a poll of Californians who said they voted in the election. The survey of 2,000 voters, released today, was conducted by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California.

“Voters really are heaping praise on the ability of the governor and Legislature to work together,” says PPIC pollster Mark Baldassare. “At the same time, they have extremely high expectations for next year.

“If state leaders cannot sustain a bipartisan atmosphere, if they get bogged down in partisan and special interest disputes, voters will turn very sour on the governor and the Legislature again.”

The poll showed that 53% of voters -- including majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents -- approve of the way the Legislature and governor “are working together in making public policy.” Only 36% disapprove.

That’s a sharp contrast from a year ago after voters rejected Schwarzenegger’s “reforms” in a special election. Then, a mere 14% approved of how the governor and Legislature were getting along; 76% disapproved.

The bipartisan cooperation -- resulting in a $37-billion infrastructure bond package, an on-time budget and several landmark bills -- has led to increased job ratings for both the governor and Legislature. Schwarzenegger’s job performance now is approved by 60% of voters, compared to 39% a year ago. The Legislature’s approval still is a relatively low 36%, but it’s way up from 20%.

In the survey, 58% of voters were confident that the governor and Legislature “will be able to work together and accomplish a lot in the next year.” Just 31% didn’t think they would.

One more finding: Voters now trust politicians in the Capitol as much as themselves at the ballot box to make wise public policy. Baldassare’s explanation: “It was a good year for representative government in California.”

The poll couldn’t be more timely.

The Legislature convened its 2007-08 session Monday with Republicans determined to take a more hard-line stance against the GOP governor and Democrats. Most felt they were ignored last year and are vowing not to let it happen again.

It was a day of conflicting scenes and themes.

The Capitol mood was mostly warm and fuzzy: Polite protocol and pageantry mixed with informality. Little kids riding on their legislator-dads’ shoulders. Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez’s 6-year-old son Carlos standing on a chair and pretending to take the oath of office along with his father. Firecrackers exploding and lion dancers performing on the lawn to celebrate the Senate’s first Chinese American member, Leland Yee (D-San Francisco).

And lots of homage to bipartisanship, highlighted by the Democratic speaker’s unprecedented invitation to the Republican governor to speak at the Assembly’s swearing-in ceremony. It was the first time in anybody’s memory -- and probably the first time ever -- that a governor has participated in this legislative ritual.

“It’s a whole new era,” Schwarzenegger told legislators, urging a continuation of cooperation. “It is up to us to show voters it was worth it to them to vote for us.”

But bipartisanship didn’t last long. On a routine vote to adopt Assembly rules, all the Republicans voted “no.”

Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo), vice chairman of the Rules Committee, objected that Democrats hadn’t shown the GOP the new rules until three hours earlier. Even if Nunez did say there was only one minor change from the last session -- designed to keep joke resolutions from being adopted, like one decrying Pluto’s demotion from planet status -- Republicans should have been allowed to “have an honest, meaningful conversation” about the rules, Blakeslee argued.

Sure. They had a point. But was this the issue that Republicans really wanted to jump on to show they’re now playing hardball? It was the epitome of inside baseball and of no voter interest -- a wasted brush-back pitch.

Meanwhile in the Senate, some Republicans were attempting to replicate what the Assembly GOP had done right after the election: boot their leader for allegedly being too cozy with the governor and not clearing deals with the party caucus.

But Senate GOP Leader Dick Ackerman of Irvine survived a coup attempt by Sen. Jim Battin of La Quinta, although on a narrow 8-7 vote. Ackerman had to listen to a lot of scolding.

“Next year, we’re going to be taking a much stronger stand on the budget,” Ackerman says.

There’ll be plenty to fight about. Not only a projected $5.5-billion deficit, but most of the infrastructure bond money approved by voters. That includes all the $20 billion in transportation money, although its appropriation will be spread over several years.

All sides say they want to avoid a “porkfest.” But you can bet that if the Legislature gets bogged down in a summer stalemate over the budget, bond pork will be traded for GOP votes.

And that will be politically dangerous for two reasons, based on Baldassare’s polling. The voters’ continuing good vibes about Sacramento will depend, he says, on a timely budget and prudent use of the bonds, which voters passed “on an act of faith.”

Voters also expect delivery, as promised, of a new healthcare system covering 6 million Californians currently uninsured, the pollster says.

He adds that the voters’ “talk is all about something special going on between this governor and the Legislature.”

Of course, this is a different Legislature. Republicans are particularly different. They shouldn’t be ignored, but also shouldn’t be party-spoilers.

George Skelton writes Monday and Thursday. Reach him at george.skelton@latimes.com.