Rescue California

-0

Governor losing budget battle
DAVIS' LEADERSHIP SKILLS UNDER FIRE IN STALEMATE

June 29, 2003

Page 2

about their families. Relations between lawmakers and Davis soured early after his first election as governor when he said: ``Their job is to implement my vision.'' Davis has said that if there were one thing he could change from his first term it would be to take back that comment.

And now his popularity has sunk to an all-time low, making it even harder for Davis to win over GOP lawmakers. In April, the Field Poll reported Davis' approval rating reached the lowest point of any California governor in 55 years.

Help from foes

During that half-century, most post-World War II governors have encountered budget crises caused by the state's fluctuating economy and been forced to reach out to their foes for help.

In 1967, even Ronald Reagan, the master communicator, needed to work with the opposite party to push through a tax boost. To pass the tax, he horse-traded with the Assembly's powerful Democratic speaker Jesse Unruh, the legendary ``Big Daddy'' of the Legislature.

So far this kind of hardball politics has been missing. Senate Leader John Burton, D-San Francisco, who battled with Reagan in the 1960s, has the know-how to help strike a bargain with Senate Republican Leader Jim Brulte of Rancho Cucamonga. But he said the Big Five meetings between the governor and top lawmakers often deteriorate into schoolyard-style spats punctuated by repetitions of long-held positions.

Above the fray

Davis typically stays above the fray, according to several sources familiar with the closed-door sessions.

It's a see-saw battle, with Brulte saying, ``Absolutely no tax,'' and Burton declaring, ``We've got to have some tax,'' Burton told his colleagues last week.

But Burton said the governor deserves a break. ``What's he going to do, put a gun to Brulte's mother's head?'' Burton said Friday after a press conference.

On taxes, Burton said, the governor has made his position clear. ``He's showing leadership . . . but Brulte's not following.'' Davis canceled the last scheduled Big Five session.

It's in Davis' political interest for the budget deadlock to end. His critics, who are gathering signatures for a recall election, have blamed the inaction on Davis.

Republican political consultant Arnold Steinberg contends the recall has become a major distraction for the governor.

``He is more distracted than usual: a paradox, since the more distracted by the recall, the less leadership he shows, leading to more recall fever,'' he wrote in an e-mail.

Davis, who spoke with newspaper editorial writers Friday, denied the charge.

``I've got one job to do, which is to pass a budget.''

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact Mark Gladstone at mgladstone@mercurynews.com or (916) 325-4314.

PAGE 1 | PAGE 2