SACRAMENTO — In addition to tackling the state's energy crisis, California lawmakers this year will carve out new legislative and congressional districts, a key political exercise based on results of the U.S. Census.
Republicans realize they are not likely to fare well in the reapportionment, given their minority status in the Legislature. Among Republicans' top priorities is maintaining unity in both houses so they can fight any Democratic gerrymandering.
Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg (D-Sherman Oaks), however, scoffed at the notion of a Democratic power grab.
"It's an internal game that most voters will not care too much about," he said. "It will take much of our time. But my mantra is to respect the Constitution. We don't want to find ourselves in a position where we find our work questioned and wind up in court."
Alan Clayton, working to improve minority representation through the Los Angeles City/County Latino Redistricting Coalition, said it would be naive to believe that Democrats will not press their advantage.
"This is the most cutthroat political thing there is," he said. Clayton and other Latino activists want to make sure Democrats do not extend their reach at the expense of Latino-heavy political districts, thereby diluting the burgeoning Latino vote.
Already, Republicans are struggling in California. They hold 30 seats in the 80-seat Assembly and 14 in the 40-seat Senate. Republicans also are a distinct minority in the California congressional delegation, holding 20 of the state's 52 House seats. The state will soon get an extra House seat as a result of population gains.
With a budget surplus of about $10 billion, Republican lawmakers are calling for $3.4 billion in tax cuts. However, lawmakers believe that the economy is slowing, so a tax cut of that magnitude seems unlikely.
Other issues on lawmakers' agenda this year include:
* Gun control. Gov. Gray Davis called for a moratorium on new gun laws in 2000. But 2001 could see a return to aggressive gun control legislation. State Sen. Jack Scott (D-Altadena), one of the Legislature's leading gun control advocates, has introduced a licensing measure similar to one he pulled back late in the last session rather than face Davis' veto.
"The political climate in California is very clear: Californians are in favor of more gun regulations," Scott said.
