A Honeymoon With Signs of Fragility

SACRAMENTO —  Even as Gov. Gray Davis renewed his call for an end to the “politics of division” on Monday, Republicans, Democrats and lobbyists here knew that opportunities abound for this honeymoon to degenerate quickly into acrimony.

Local, state and national political figures who converged on Sacramento for the inauguration of statewide officeholders publicly echoed Davis’ talk of inclusion. Bipartisanship and moderation were the bywords of the day.

But many issues that await Davis and the Legislature don’t lend themselves to easy compromise. Democrats know that if they squabble and stumble, the Republicans who remain in office will be there to trumpet any failures.

Adding to the potential pitfalls, if the state has a budget shortfall--forecasters say it could be $1 billion--Democratic interests, especially state workers hungry for a raise, will be forced to stomach lowered expectations.

“The people are not going to tolerate the kind of partisanship they see in Washington, D.C.,” declared Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles). “They want an end to that. And if we don’t end it, they will get rid of us, and well they should.”

Picking Their Battles

Republicans were all too happy to echo the bipartisan talk, realizing that with Democrats holding the governor’s office and the Legislature, they will get only as much power as the Democrats are willing to give.

“I don’t think the Republican Party is really in a position to have a partisan battle right now,” said Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush, one of only two Republicans elected to statewide office in November. “We have to get our house in order before we engage in debate.”

The drubbing that the GOP took in California is “probably the best thing that has happened to the Republican Party,” Quackenbush said as he moved from Democratic event to Democratic event Monday. The GOP has “swung too far to the right” and is seen as a “fringe party,” he said.

After taking control of the governor’s office for the first time in 16 years, at least some Democrats will be pushing hard for legislation that fell to vetoes under Republican Gov. Pete Wilson, and for changes in policy that are sure to shake things up.

“These guys are very tempered, very measured,” Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) said, referring to Davis and Speaker Villaraigosa, Cedillo’s boyhood friend. “I guess it’s my job to push them.”

Listing issues ranging from health care to relations with Mexico, Cedillo said, “We have to be very aggressive and move forward quickly while we do have this momentum.”

Friction from the more liberal wing of the Democratic Party is likely, maybe inevitable. It popped up at Sunday evening’s Inaugural Gala in Sacramento.

Actor and director Edward James Olmos was scheduled to give what was billed as “a reading.” But he instead launched into a speech that lambasted California for becoming “English-only” by approving Proposition 227, last year’s anti-bilingual education initiative.

Olmos began his speech in Spanish, welcoming the crowd, then said, “For those of you who are Spanish-impaired, welcome to English-only, 1999-style.”

“Governor, it’s like me saying to you, ‘Si no me entiendes ahora, no entiendes nada,’ ” he said, never translating the phrase, which means: If you don’t understand me now, you don’t understand anything.

Davis responded blandly in a speech later that evening, saying he wants all Californians to “know at least two languages, maybe three languages.”

In the Legislature, Davis is sure to win approval for many of his education ideas. Lawmakers also are almost certain to approve new restrictions on assault weapons, as Davis wants.

But there are many other issues that, while not the focus of wide public attention, could threaten any bipartisan veneer.

Villaraigosa already has waded into the middle of one of the longest-running fights in Sacramento, between physicians and lawyers who sue them for malpractice.

The speaker has introduced a bill to raise the amount that patients can collect in suits over medical malpractice. Villaraigosa would not say how much he wants to raise the cap, just that the $250,000 that has been in place for more than 20 years is too low.

The issue may not seem huge to people outside the Capitol. But among the state’s well-heeled special interests, few issues are hotter. Trial lawyers, among the biggest campaign donors to Davis and Democratic lawmakers, say the change is at the top of their legislative agenda.

Saber Rattling

Steve Thompson, of the powerful California Medical Assn., vowed to fight any effort to alter the landmark malpractice statute, saying physicians would consider such a fight as something akin to a jihad.

“It’s a Sacramento special-interest issue,” Thompson said. “It’s not the most important. But sometimes they’re the most fun.”

Another issue that is sure to torpedo any warm and fuzzy talk is reapportionment. It’s another insider’s issue, but one with lasting implications for state and national politics and policy.

Given that Democrats control the Legislature and the governor’s office, they will redraw the legislative boundaries after the 2000 census.

“Republicans are dead in this state for 10 years,” Democratic Party official Bob Mulholland said, referring to the coming redistricting. As an example, he pointed to Rep. Brian P. Bilbray (R-San Diego). “If we don’t beat him in 2000, he’ll need a surfboard to find his district in 2002.”