Features

SACRAMENTO — The California Legislature opened its 2001 session Monday with plenty of handshakes, hugs and unanimity, but there were also signs of discord lurking around the corner. 

“Just to get out alive is our motto,” quipped Senate President Pro Tem John Burton, D-San Francisco, as lawmakers began a session that could see fights over redistricting, tax cuts, electricity deregulation and a number of other issues. 

Lawmakers met briefly to take their oaths of office, elect their leaders and begin introducing the thousands of bills they will consider over the next two years. Then they recessed until January. 

They got off to a harmonious start with the Senate and Assembly unanimously re-electing Burton and Assembly Speaker Robert Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, to the top posts in their houses. 

Lawmakers also smoothly approved the rules under which they will operate in 2001 and 2002, including some changes designed to limit late amendments and avoid the chaos that hit on the last night of this year’s session. 

“At this moment, the eyes of our country – and, in fact, the world – are focused on examples of partisan warfare,” said Hertzberg, referring to the court fights over the presidential election. “People are wondering whether our political process really works. Today we have provided a different example.” 

But there also were reminders of some of the battles that may lie ahead. 

Assemblyman Bill Leonard, R-Rancho Cucamonga, introduced a resolution calling for a fair redrawing of legislative seats to reflect population growth revealed by this year’s federal census. 

Redistricting, as the process is called, can be one of the most highly partisan processes lawmakers engage in. Where lines for Senate, Assembly and congressional districts are placed can determine if one party will control the Legislature and even Congress for the next decade. 

Leonard is concerned because for the first time in 20 years members of one party – in this case the Democrats – will be able to dictate where those lines go because they hold the governor’s office and have majorities in both houses of the Legislature. 

That would allow Democrats to try to maximize the number of seats they hold by putting heavily Republican areas into as few districts as possible. 

Hertzberg promised to “draw fair lines, lines that reflect the true California.” 

If Republicans don’t agree they can try to get voters to overturn the new districts or challenge them in court or both. Going to the voters would not be an option if Democrats can muster enough Republican support to approve the plans by two-thirds votes. 

Other hot issues could include how to control skyrocketing electricity rates, whether to toughen gun control laws and how to use a budget surplus projected to top $10 billion. 

Democrats now hold 26 of the Senate’s 40 seats and 50 of the Assembly’s 80 seats. That’s an increase of one Senate seat and four Assembly seats. 

One Assembly seat is vacant because a Republican candidate, Jan Leja of Beaumont, agreed Friday to plead guilty to filing false campaign finance reports and not to take her seat. 

A special election will be held next year to fill that vacancy. 

Despite her absence, there are more women in the new Legislature, as well as more Hispanics, Asians and gays, including the first openly gay member of the Senate, Democrat Sheila Kuehl of Santa Monica. 

Twenty-eight lawmakers – all in the Assembly – are totally new. Ten first-time senators are former members of the Assembly and three lawmakers are returning to the Assembly after stints in the Senate.