Valley loses clout in Legislature

Region of 4 million people lacks key voice on budget.

Published online on Saturday, Jun. 06, 2009

SACRAMENTO -- A special committee this month is making key decisions on solving the state's budget crisis -- without representation from the San Joaquin Valley. And as the "Big Four" legislative leaders confer on the state's fiscal choices, they, too, lack a Valley voice.

Has the region lost whatever clout it once had in Sacramento?

Only a few months ago, two of the Valley's representatives played key roles. But that changed in the aftermath of the last budget deal in February, when Republicans Dave Cogdill of Modesto and Mike Villines of Clovis were pushed out of Big Four leadership roles by conservative colleagues upset with their votes for new taxes.

They were replaced by Republicans from the Central Coast and Inland Empire. The Valley took another hit when none of the region's 15 lawmakers was able to secure a spot on the Senate-Assembly Budget Conference Committee. The panel is voting on budget proposals that will later be presented to the full Legislature.

The committee is a select group, just 10 of the Legislature's 120 members. Still, including the Big Four -- the party leaders in the two houses -- lawmakers with budget leadership roles come from districts that touch 24 of the state's 58 counties. Almost all major regions are represented, except the Valley, which is home to nearly 4 million people from San Joaquin to Kern counties.

Fred Silva, an adviser for California Forward, a bipartisan political reform group, said the committee make-up follows a trend of less emphasis on regions and more on ideology.

Legislative leaders are more apt to give key posts to members who agree with them philosophically rather than balancing representation across the state, he said.

"There's a danger when the emphasis is more ideological than it is to focus on the vibrancy of California regions, whether it's the Valley or it's Southern California," said Silva, a former top legislative budget consultant for Democrats.

Pete Weber, a civic leader in Fresno, said the massive budget cuts on the table could have disproportionate effects on the region.

Thousands of Valley residents rely on social service programs that face massive cuts, for instance. Also, counties rely on state money for the Williamson Act land-preservation program that also is on the chopping block.

"I am concerned that we don't have a representative at the table," Weber said. "I want to make sure that the unique circumstances of the Valley, which are doubly affected by the economy and the drought, are taken into consideration."

Most Valley lawmakers downplayed the situation, saying leaders will keep them abreast and take suggestions.

"Our input is valuable to them," said Assembly Member Connie Conway, R-Tulare. "It's my obligation to make sure that my conference committee members are hearing from me."

But Assembly Member Juan Arambula, D-Fresno, is concerned about a lack of input. He said he tried to get on the conference committee. But he suggested that leaders kept him off because he has pushed for significant spending cuts in private caucus meetings, while other Democrats want tax increases.

"Maybe I've been outspoken ... about the need to make more cuts," he said. "That's not an approach that sits well with some folks."

Arambula voted for tax increases in February but says voters in his district don't want any more hikes.

Legislative leaders said they focused on experience when assembling the conference committee, naming several members who have served on budget committees in each house.