Term-limit jockeying a rough ride for some

Paper: Fresno Bee, The (CA)

Date: June 29, 2007

When Democratic leaders -- especially Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez -- launched their drive to modify legislative term limits, they painted big targets on the backs of their well-tailored suits.

A fundamental political tenet is that when someone really wants something, he or she cedes leverage to others, and Núñez really wants to change term limits because otherwise he and Senate leader Don Perata, among others, would be forced to give up their seats next year. Thus, the squeeze is on.

An obvious example is Gov. Schwarzenegger's unsubtle threat to oppose the measure changing term limits unless Democrats place redistricting reform on the same Feb. 5 ballot.

A business-labor-political coalition is seeking signatures on an initiative that would allow Núñez and other lawmakers facing term limits to spend as long as 12 years in one legislative house, modifying the current limit of six years in the Assembly and eight in the Senate. With Schwarzenegger's popularity roughly twice as high as the Legislature's in recent polls and with term-limit change drawing lukewarm support from voters, the prevailing political wisdom is that Schwarzenegger's opposition could be fatal.

Schwarzenegger, however, is not alone in squeezing Núñez et al. An even more blatant threat came from the Professional Peace Officers Association, an umbrella group for rank-and-file police who bitterly oppose a bill that would allow public access to police disciplinary proceedings.

The measure, Senate Bill 1019 by Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, cleared the Senate but was stalled in the Assembly after John Stites, president of the police association, sent messages to legislators that if the bill were to be passed, the union would oppose the term-limit modification -- and added ominously, "Ensure that it be understood that this will only be the beginning." Thereafter, the Assembly Public Safety Committee held the bill without a vote -- an action that had to have leadership blessing.

Finally, the fear of big-bucks opposition to the measure plays at least a tangential role in the Assembly's acceptance of new compacts with four casino-owning Southern California Indian tribes after blocking approval for months at the behest of unions.

Late Thursday, the Assembly approved the compacts after hours of private meetings among Democrats torn between their labor allies and pressure from the tribes, earning more denunciations from the unions.

Dan Walters writes for The Bee's Capitol bureau. E-mail: dwalters@sacbee.com; mail: P.O. Box 15779, Sacramento, CA 95852.

Author: Dan WaltersBee Capitol Bureau

Section: LOCAL NEWS

Page: B3