John L Burton

Gov. Pete Wilson's sharpest legislative critic, his tongue only partly in his cheek, proposed bills Tuesday that would make it a felony to be poor. "I'm facetious and I'm not," said state Sen. John Burton (D-San Francisco), a liberal Democrat. "The governor's basic philosophy is that people are poor because they want to be poor. So in order to discourage people from being poor, we would make it a crime."

In a strange subplot to the tight race for House minority whip, a powerful position coveted by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), a fellow California Democrat has charged that she is facing threats of political retribution because of her refusal to back Pelosi. Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher (D-Alamo), who among California's 32 Democratic House members is the only one to publicly support Pelosi's rival for whip, Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.

The executive director of a foundation created by John Burton filed a $10-million lawsuit Wednesday alleging that the former state Senate president sexually harassed her by making unwanted advances, using suggestive language and commenting on her body.

Moving to add stability to the Legislature, Senate and Assembly Democrats are preparing to select their new leaders, with a fast-rising Eastside assemblyman poised to become the first speaker from Los Angeles in 20 years. Antonio Villaraigosa, a former labor organizer in only his third year of office, appears to be on the verge of locking up enough votes from key Democrats to capture the Assembly speaker post. A vote could come as early as next week. Meanwhile, Sen.

Gov. Pete Wilson's attempt to regulate Indian casino gambling suffered a major setback Monday, despite the efforts of a powerful Democratic legislative ally who has crossed party lines to work with the governor. Disregarding the personal cajoling of state Senate leader John Burton (D-San Francisco), an Assembly committee voted down a bill needed by Wilson to ratify a gaming pact that he negotiated in March with one Native American tribe.

Retired state Sen. Teresa Hughes (D-Inglewood) has been appointed to the California Medical Assistance Commission, Senate leader John L. Burton announced. At the part-time post, Hughes, who was prohibited by term limits from seeking reelection last year, will be paid $99,000 a year, the same sum she received as a legislator. The seven-member commission contracts with health care organizations to provide services to Medi-Cal recipients. Three members are former lawmakers.

Assemblywoman Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) took the oath of office Monday as a state senator, succeeding Democrat Hilda Solis of La Puente, who was elected to Congress in November. Romero defeated former Assemblyman Martin Gallegos (D-Baldwin Hills) in a special election last week and will fill the remainder of Solis' term, which expires next year. Romero's win restored the margin of Democrats over Republicans in the Senate to 26 to 14, one short of a two-thirds majority.

In fewer than two minutes and with no debate, the state Senate on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution declaring its support of U.S. troops in the war with Iraq. The measure, SR 22 by Senate leader John L. Burton (D-San Francisco), was virtually identical to a resolution that tied up the Assembly in partisan bickering for more than two hours Wednesday. That proposal was finally adopted 74 to 0. Both resolutions expressed a "fervent hope" that the war will end soon and that U.S.

The Assembly meeting had barely started Thursday morning when Speaker Herb Wesson (D-Culver City) called it off because the country "is at war" and members should go home and be with their families. Wesson said he got a letter from a "frightened" 7-year-old boy who suggested that there ought to be a rule letting mothers be home with their sons and daughters "because of their fears." The Senate canceled its floor session an hour before it was to start. Senate President Pro Tem John L.