January 25, 2006 - Democrats, governor split on issues

By Steve Geissinger, SACRAMENTO BUREAU
Inside Bay Area

SACRAMENTO ‹ Two power struggles broke out Tuesday between Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic lawmakers ‹ one over his $222 billion public works plan, the other over adoption of an assisted-suicide measure.

Both foreshadow a stormy legislative session this election year, analysts said.

Schwarzenegger discounted Democratic legislative leaders' objections to his infrastructure improvement proposal, such as that it cedes too much authority to state bureaucracy.

Setting the stage for a separate showdown, the governor said voters should decide whether to adopt physician-assisted suicide in California.

The bill's author, Assemblywoman Patty Berg, D-Eureka, and Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, flatly disagreed. They said the issue should be worked out at the Capitol.

In addressing questions at the Sacramento Press Club about criticism of his public works plan, Schwarzenegger said he is remaining flexible ‹ contrary to Democrats' claims.

"We're open to any discussions about our position," Schwarzenegger said. "There's nothing we're saying is a deal breaker."

But in reply, Democrats ‹ who feel the public works plan's flaws include inadequately addressing areas such as affordable housing, hospitals, parks and high-speed rail ‹ predicted only parts of the plan would make the next ballot.

"I also don't think that the Democrats are going to agree to throwing out environmental and labor laws as a ticket for this bond issue," said Assemblyman John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, who chairman of the Assembly Budget and Infrastructure committees. "I think deadlines can be met for a piece of it."

The Legislature began examining the proposal in earnest Tuesday, with a March deadline to qualify for the June ballot.

In addition, in answering wide-ranging questions, Schwarzenegger said voters should decide whether to adopt physician-assisted suicide, but Democratic authors of the legislation flatly disagreed, saying it should be decided by the governor and lawmakers.

Schwarzenegger, a Catholic, refused to disclose his personal view on doctor-assisted suicide of the terminally ill ‹ a practice upheld in Oregon last week by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The ruling spurred chances of lawmakers sending the governor similar legislation this election year. There are no initiatives in circulation on the issue.

Even so, Schwarzenegger said, "This is a decision that should be made by the people."

After his ill-fated "government revamp" special election in November, however, the governor said he had learned that Californians want him and the Legislature to work out thorny issues.

The governor said there was no conflict between his post-election comments and his stance Tuesday on assisted suicide, considering the different circumstances.

Levine said, "The public said the Legislature and governor should work together. The public (in polls) overwhelmingly supports the idea. We don't need to waste time and money on an election."

Berg said, "Californians deserve a reasoned and thoughtful debate on this issue, not a campaign shouting match between fundamentalists and civil libertarians, which you'd have if it went to the ballot."

Moreover, Berg and Levine said, the courts have specifically mentioned legislatures as the place for states to work out this issue.

The developments came as supporters and opponents of the bill held dueling news conferences Tuesday.

The bill, modeled after the Oregon law, would allow terminally ill people to receive a lethal prescription to hasten their deaths.

Contact Sacramento Bureau Chief Steve Geissinger at sgeissinger@angnewspapers.com.