Opinion

Sunday, Sep. 13, 2009

Dan Walters: Legislature lives up -- or down -- to its reputation

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As the 2009 legislative session entered its final days, the president pro tem of the state Senate, Darrell Steinberg, lamented the Capitol's "culture of failure."

He was referring specifically to the Assembly's rejection of an ambitious prison overhaul plan, reducing inmates to save money and respond to federal court pressure, but made it clear that it applied to other long-stalled issues as well, especially water policy.

"I don't want to be part of a culture of failure," Steinberg said, talking hopefully about "a window of opportunity to get a big (water) package done before the end of the session."

Well, he tried, but as the session ended early Saturday, water remained on the Capitol's shelf of unfinished business, and Steinberg settled for the Assembly's version of prison reform that he had criticized earlier as being too weak.

Steinberg put on a positive spin, saying that even without water, "I think it was an incredible session." He cited a two-bill package that requires a higher commitment to renewable energy such as wind and solar – but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will veto it.

With the stalemate on water, 2009 goes down as a year in which the Legislature added to its reputation for endemic impotence. Steinberg learned, if he didn't know it already, that when it comes to visceral, multi-stakeholder issues such as prisons or water rights, big moves are nearly impossible. One could add another perennially thorny issue, the state budget.

The Legislature passed a new version of the 2008-09 budget and two versions of the 2009-10 budget, all of which were loaded with gimmicks and short-term spending cuts and revenues, and everyone in the Capitol knows that the budget still leaks red ink.

The prison overhaul was supposed to help the budget by saving $1.2 billion, so that hole remains partially unfilled. Other assumptions and tax revenues are also falling short, so it's likely that by January, if not before, Schwarzenegger and legislators will reopen the budget for more revisions.

Even if the budget holds longer, the Legislature likely will return later this fall for one or more special sessions, including one devoted to a pending recommendation of a commission on overhauling the state's taxation system – if the commission can reach agreement itself.

While many high-profile issues were left hanging, the Legislature devoted most of its final hours to disposing of dozens of lesser measures, not a few of which were favors to various special interests, including a late-blooming measure promoted by megadeveloper Ed Roski Jr. and labor unions to exempt a proposed professional football stadium in the City of Industry from environmental clearance.

A flying wedge of lobbyists pushed the bill through the Assembly, a classic 11th-hour slam job. But Steinberg put it on hold in the Senate, a small victory for integrity in an otherwise dismal year.