Panel Endures Parade of ‘Pork Day’ Requests

SACRAMENTO — Legislators waited their turn Tuesday inside a nearly empty cavernous hearing room at the Capitol. Then one by one they stood at a wooden rostrum and made humble pleas, respectful requests and modest proposals.

It was their day to ask that money be tucked into the new state budget for their pet projects.

They wanted money “for the children,” especially for “at-risk youth.” Buildings in need of earthquake fixes were high on the list, as were “high-tech” centers. Parks, particularly in urban areas, were “absolutely necessary.” So were “cultural centers” to celebrate California’s diversity.

It was all part of the annual ritual called Members’ Day, derisively known as Pork Day.

In turn, leaders and back-bench freshmen alike made their way to the podium throughout the day and into the early evening Tuesday to make their pitch to the six members of the Assembly-Senate conference committee crafting the 1997-98 budget.

This year, Pork Day reached new heights. Lawmakers made 800 appeals for money in the daylong event, a number that veteran budget staffers and lawmakers believe was a record.

“There are some very expensive requests being made. There are new records being set,” said Assemblyman Gary Miller (R-Diamond Bar), one of the conference committee members, as he headed into the afternoon session. “That room is one big sooey, sooey.”

Of course Miller, like the other members of the budget conference committee, had his own requests--among them $600,000 for a high-tech center at a community college in his district.

Many lawmakers made broad requests for more money for local government, welfare programs or state-funded medical programs. Some issued calls for tax cuts or asked that the committee slash various state agencies that had gotten on their wrong side.

But the point of the day was to give each legislator a chance to make a plea for his or her programs--and, as a result, give budget committee members a chance to get their digs in.

The conference committee made no decisions Tuesday. Members will decide which requests to insert into the Legislature’s budget as the process continues over the next two weeks.

By law, the Legislature must approve its budget by a two-thirds margin by June 15, although that deadline is rarely met. Lawmakers whose requests are granted are expected to vote for the budget.

Almost all of them took a hat-in-hand approach.

“I respectfully request” $500,000 for a teen center and pool in El Monte, said Assemblyman Martin Gallegos (D-Baldwin Park).

Assemblyman Fred Aguiar (R-Chino) focused on softball fields, snack bars and restrooms, $50,000 worth of them at a park in Pomona. He also wanted $50,000 for remodeling a children’s museum in Chino, and $2 million to buy 680 acres at Coal Canyon near Chino Hills State Park.

Sen. Richard G. Polanco (D-Los Angeles) made a “very straightforward” request for $10 million for what he calls the New California Center. Essentially, the money would help purchase the Lawry’s restaurant property near downtown Los Angeles.

The land would be used for a Latino Museum and an “entertainment/media industry-based [facility] with a focus on the emerging Latino content in film, television and new media technologies.”

In an unofficial tally, Polanco led the Los Angeles delegation in requests--although there were many challengers. Among his other requests, Polanco wanted $2 million for five Indian cultural centers throughout the state and $2 million for the Charles Drew Medical School in Los Angeles.

“Congratulations, you’re the leading contender for the Henry Mello Award,” conference committee Co-chairman Sen. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) told Polanco. Mello is a former senator who was renowned for his ability to deliver pork to his Santa Cruz-area district.

A few moments later, Thompson told Assemblyman Wally Knox (D-Los Angeles) that he surpassed Polanco in the running for the Mello Award. Among Knox’s requests were $3 million for the Hollywood Entertainment Museum that he said is “absolutely necessary” to Hollywood’s revitalization.

In sheer numbers, Sen. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) made both Knox and Polanco look like pikers. Costa had 31 requests for money.

But Assemblyman Scott Wildman (D-Los Angeles) was perhaps the most hopeful member.

“If you don’t ask. . . ,” the freshman said, as he went through an interminable list of requests, from bilingual projects for his Armenian constituents to $2.8 million for earthquake retrofitting of a state building in Glendale, to street lights at a freeway interchange, to sound walls for freeways, and so on.

“I’m not done yet,” Wildman said at one point, apparently oblivious that members lost patience.

Budget conferees told him how they too had desires for sound walls in their districts and how legislators don’t make decisions about lighting on freeways. Such decisions are left to the Department of Transportation.

“Poor Mr. Wildman,” said Assemblywoman Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego), a co-chairwoman of the budget conference committee.

When Ducheny attempted to come to his aid by suggesting that he submit his final 16 requests in writing, Sen. Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) interrupted: “Don’t go easy on him. Have a little fun.”

At that point, Sen. Steve Peace (D-El Cajon), another committee member, stood, held his hands as if he were aiming a shotgun at Wildman, and pulled the imaginary trigger. Then Peace left, shaking his head in disbelief.

“It’s a long tradition, emphasis on long,” Peace said. And, he added, referring to new legislators’ inexperience and their desire to impress the folks back home, “ironically, term limits have made it longer.”