TOP DEMOCRATS ACCUSE DAVIS OF USURPING THEIR AUTHORITY

Governor Has Snatched Legislative Reins, They Say

Weeks of behind-the-scenes grumbling among lawmakers about Gov. Gray Davis
erupted into a public feud yesterday as top Democratic legislators attacked
the administration for trying to dictate their agenda.

Legislative leaders were sputtering after the governor's lobbyists made
several attempts to delay or defeat legislation without consulting with the
Democratic leadership or with authors of bills.

``It's totally an improper intrusion in the legislative process,'' Senate
President Pro Tem John Burton, D- San Francisco, said in an interview.

In a memorandum yesterday, Burton and Assembly Speaker Antonio
Villaraigosa, D-Los Angeles, took the unusual step of ordering legislative
committee chiefs to ignore requests from the governor's staff to delay
action on key legislation.

``We are not going to allow the legislative process to be dictated by
executive department heads or administration staff,'' Burton and
Villaraigosa wrote. ``You are to pay absolutely no attention to any
requests until it is cleared'' with the leadership.

Burton said that if the governor consults directly with leaders, he would
be afforded full respect. ``He would be shown the due deference he should
be accorded,'' Burton said.

Davis' press secretary, Michael Bustamante, declined to comment on the
memo. ``Strange things happen in Sacramento when the temperature gets over
100 degrees'' was all he would say, referring to this week's heat spell.

As the Legislature today begins its monthlong summer recess, the rift
between the new governor and his fellow Democrats threatens dozens of key
bills that await final action in August.

The confrontation may have been inevitable. Majority Democrats are eager to
pass bills that had been routinely vetoed by Republican governors for the
past 16 years, while Davis, the most cautious of politicians, is desperate
to maintain his image as a pro-business moderate.

For weeks, lawmakers have privately complained that during Davis' first
seven months he has failed to focus on the Legislature's ambitious agenda.
For months, he took no positions on bills until they reached his desk.

Davis' staff says that the governor has been occupied with other matters.
Davis cleared his schedule of public events this week so he could work on
much-delayed appointments. Dozens of key posts are still unfilled in the
new administration.

Yet Davis was scheduled last night to go to Monterey for a $3,000-a-head
fund-raising golf tournament -- ``The Governor's Cup'' -- hosted by the
California Correctional Peace Officers Association, one of his most
generous campaign contributors.

The prison guards' union spent more than $1 million last year to elect Davis.

``Proceeds from this year's tournament will go to support our newly elected
governor, Gray Davis, who we are excited to have as a participant at this
year's tournament,'' said the invitation letter from peace officers
association president Don Novey.

The feud with top Democratic lawmakers was ignited when Davis
administration officials, on at least three occasions in recent days, made
last-minute requests that legislative committee heads delay action on bills
the governor opposes or is worried about.

Assemblyman Martin Gallegos, D-Baldwin Park, chairman of the Assembly
Health Committee, said Mike Gotch, Davis' chief lobbyist, asked him Tuesday
to hold two bills on medicinal marijuana.

``I was asked to hold a couple of bills in committee. Essentially, the
governor had some concerns and he wanted to work with the author on those
concerns,'' Gallegos said. ``The memo didn't map out what those concerns
were.''

Both bills by Senator John Vasconcellos, D-Santa Clara, were approved by
Gallegos' committee.

``I'm sure Mike Gotch realizes that when you come at that late hour to a
committee where bills are already set, the committee has already convened,
it's very difficult to stop bills unless the author wants to,'' Gallegos said.

Davis lieutenants also persuaded Assemblyman Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, to
postpone a hearing today on a bill sought by labor unions to increase
workers' compensation benefits.

The bill would cost $1.7 billion over three years, according to supporters.
Opponents, led by business groups, say the costs are closer to $3 billion.

For more than a month, Davis administration department directors have asked
Sen. Hilda Solis, D-La Puente, to slow down the progress of the bill. The
administration has specified its objection to the Solis measure.

Also exacerbating the situation was a meeting on Monday with half a dozen
legislative committee heads that Davis called to discuss which health care
measures the governor wants to see reach his desk -- and when.

Not invited were Villaraigosa and Burton. Villaraigosa learned of the
meeting only after it took place.