Leading Democrat Readies for Schwarzenegger Budget Battles
By Howard Fine
Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, relishes the tough assignments.
Soon after being elected to the state Legislature in 2000, she was placed on the committee looking into ways to respond to the energy crisis. Next, she became chairwoman of the Assembly Budget Committee, just in time for the state’s budget implosion.
Now, Oropeza is one of three Democratic assemblymembers vying to replace termed-out Speaker Herb Wesson (the others are Dario Frommer of Glendale and Fabian Nunez of Los Angeles) and become one of the Democrats’ leading voices to counterweight Republican Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger. The vote could take place as early as this week.
Why do you want to be Assembly speaker?
I have something to offer our caucus with the experience I bring and who I am as a person. Also, I love a challenge. I’m not the type to be a backbencher. I like to be where the action is, and there is.
If your colleagues choose you, what are your goals?
First and foremost, to bring a sense of focus to the Assembly. I would like to see the Assembly adopt an agenda or theme and realize that it can’t fix everything. Right now, we have a hit-or-miss system of legislating.
What are some of your other goals?
My colleagues have told me they want to see a lowering of the volume of partisan rhetoric. Now that there is a Republican governor, I hope that Republicans will feel more comfortable with actually governing, coming up with solid solutions.
Why did you seek to be named Budget Committee chair when the state was facing multibillion-dollar deficits?
(Laughing) People thought I was nuts, but I never regretted it for a moment. I knew I had something to offer with my academic background in business; I had some understanding of economics and finance.
Ideally, how should budgets be drawn up?
We need to start out on better bipartisan footing. I’d like some parameters to be agreed to at the front end, which is something we’ve never done. Usually, the governor presents his budget, we hold all sorts of hearings and start working on a document. Then the governor issues his May revise and then a few weeks later, everyone puts their cards on the table. We should get those cards on the table at the outset, in January.
Any other changes?
I’d like to see more accountability built into the budget process. For example, if we grant tax incentives to business, there should be some audits so that we know that the incentives are actually producing the results in job creation that we intended. The same for spending within state departments.
What was the message you took away from the recall election?
At first, I thought it was about Gray Davis. But after it succeeded, I realized the people wanted to see a change in the way we do their work. They want to see us behave more statesmanlike. They rejected the partisan bickering that they perceived the Gray Davis administration was all about.
Schwarzenegger wants to roll back the car tax, and he is opposed to any additional taxes. How can the budget deficit be resolved?
I’m really anxious to see how he thinks this can be done. I am not at all sure it can be done. I’m hoping that once Arnold and his team get a real look at this, they will re-evaluate some of their positions. He has said he doesn’t want to cut education. And I have to believe that as a caring person, he will not want to gut our health and social service budget.
What about more borrowing?
I don’t know how much more borrowing we can do. As you know, Treasurer (Phil) Angelides has warned us that the markets are not very comfortable with loaning us more money. I don’t know that it would be responsible to borrow through the next generation. On the other hand, as part of package that shows our fiscal responsibility, I’m sure borrowing will play a role.
Do you think it will be any easier to work with Gov. Schwarzenegger than it was with Gov. Davis?
I have to say that working with Gov. Davis was not easy. Not that we argued or disagreed a whole lot. It was just sometimes hard to get him to engage sometimes. Gov. Sch-warzenegger seems to have a pleasant demeanor and be just a little more likeable and open. I just don’t know how that will play out as he actually starts governing.
Have you met Arnold Schwarzenegger since the election?
No, I have not. I sent him a couple letters offering my assistance on budget matters.
Business groups fear that they will be hit with more taxes as part of the budget solution. Can you give them any reassurance?
We are beginning to see real improvement in the economy, so businesses across the board should be more optimistic. But we are going to have to be careful that we in the Legislature do not take steps to stop this growth in its tracks. Overtaxing could do just that. We really have to be careful.
Fine is a staff reporter with the Los Angeles Business Journal.
