Hours spent at capitol could be curtailed

Some valley lawmakers aren't sounding an alarm yet over an initiative that could send them back to their districts most of the year, but if it happens some say they're ready.

The initiative, authored by Ted Costa, a Sacramento activist, could trim the amount of time lawmakers spend in Sacramento to two to three months per year.

Costa, the man behind the recall of former Gov. Gray Davis, said the impetus behind his idea to have a part-time legislature is based on too much special interest influence and not enough concentration on local constituents for state lawmakers.

After all, he said, state lawmakers "should be beholding to their constituents."

On his Web site, Costa allows visitors to decide how much time lawmakers should spend in Sacramento, from two to three months every two years to six months every year, and in between he's thrown in six months every two years.

His Web site also asks visitors how much state lawmakers should be paid, from $50,000 to $150,000 annually.

"We don't want them to hang around this building," he said. "We want them to meet some of their constituents."

As it is now, lawmakers he said say they work full time but often show up on Tuesday and leave by Thursday afternoon.

"And they count Saturday, Sunday and holidays as session time," he said.

Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi, R-Lodi, said the idea has merit in that it would force lawmakers to become more efficient.

As an example, Nakanishi said during one assembly session, Assembly members spent hours praising women athletes.

"It was a lot of ceremonial stuff," he said. "And we spend a lot of time in committees meetings that are not efficient use of time."

Nakanishi blamed the system in Sacramento.

"If we were part time, and we cut some of this stuff we'd be more efficient."

But Assemblywoman Barbara Matthews, D-Tracy, said the "devil will be in the details."

"The most important thing a legislator can do is spend time within the district," she said. But Matthews said she was worried that if lawmakers are in Sacramento only part time, special interests will have more power.

"They'll have more time not only to write legislation but also analyze it," she said.

Matthew said under Costa's initiative, the balance of power could be given directly to lobbyists and special interest, exactly what Costa rails against.

But Sen. Chuck Poochigian, R-Fresno, said saving the balance of power in Sacramento depends on how Costa's bill is structured.

Still, he said the idea of part-time lawmakers would serve the public well.

As it is now, legislators are in office from January to September, which he said contributes to "an atmosphere of mischief" -- whereby legislation is introduced that doesn't serve good public policy.

By shortening legislators' terms, Poochigian said the focus in Sacramento would be the passage of the state budget or "identifying some key public policy issues."

While the two Republican lawmakers see the idea as a good one, one GOP consultant had a different spin.

Carl Fogliani, formerly with Stockton Mayor Gary Podesto's primary run for state Senate and former spokesman for Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian, R-Stockton, said while small government is a Republican mantra, the idea of shrinking lawmakers' time in Sacramento might not serve constituents well.

"Are members going to be effective as possible"? Fogliani asked.

While shortening time in the Capitol would help what he said are bills that clog the system, lawmakers are concerned about their constituents.

"This isn't giving enough credit to people who are serving the public," Fogliani said.

Calls to other valley lawmakers for comment were not returned.

While local lawmakers are in a quandary, several residents asked about the effort to trim legislators' time are behind the bill.

At the Lodi Department of Motor Vehicles on Monday, some people there said they supported the idea.

Larry Backert, 60, of Wilton, said the idea was great.

"The less time they're up there, the less time they have to do damage," he said.

"Besides, government is getting too big," Backert said. Instead, he wants California lawmakers to go the way of Texas -- where legislators meet only two months a year.

And Carolyn, who wouldn't give her last name, said she supported the concept.

"I don't think it's such a bad idea," said the Stockton resident.

Pete Crist, 68, of Lodi nixed the idea as being too restrictive and getting in the way of lawmakers and the job they have to do.

The registered Democrat said lawmakers don't have enough time nowadays to do the job they're supposed to do.

Instead, he said vacation time for lawmakers should be shortened.

At the Tracy DMV, Lance Hatcher, 28, of Manteca said he supported lawmakers coming back to their districts more often.

"I think it would do the community some good if they could see what we go through instead of just staying in Sacramento," Hatcher said. "Maybe they'd do some real work."

Luis, who didn't want to give his last name, said forcing lawmakers into their district wouldn't really make a difference.

His life would still be as complicated with just as many problems, he said.

"I don't really care," he said.

For more information on Costa or his initiative, go to www.tedcosta.com/biography.html.