Gray’s green politics!

By Barbara Simpson

You may not care what happens in California politics, but you should. Not only because California ideas tend to spread across the country, but because its politicians gravitate toward big, government buildings in Washington.

D.C., that is – not the state.

They aim at the house and senate and also, the big prize – the White House. They don’t always make it, but the trip is a wild ride and the road is paved in green.

Money, that is – not environmentalism.

Now that’s no surprise, but what’s going on in California is raising eyebrows even of experienced pols. The man in question has the name and the look of “bland.”

He’s Gray Davis, a staunch Democrat. He’s prematurely grey, which matches his name and persona. Even when he smiles, he has the pained look of someone who wishes he’d had prunes for breakfast.

The impression might be to write him off. Wrong! The man has been around California politics for more than 30 years, working his way up and through the maze of political intrigue. For years, there was talk of his aiming to be governor – no one believed it more than he.

Many thought it was impossible. They were wrong. He’s governor now, and from the moment he was elected, he’s been fundraising for re-election. (Shades of Clinton!) Having the podium and the power, it’s been easy to get the bucks. Reports are, he’s got nearly $40 million.

How about that! $40 million to get re-elected governor. But hold on to your hats. He doesn’t want to stop there. He’s set his sights on that oval office in that big, white house. Surprise, surprise!

His Republican opponent in November is Bill Simon, a political novice. He’s never held elected office, but pulled off an upset in the primary, trouncing former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riorden, who not only had hands-on experience but also the support of President Bush.

Simon won – with a platform rooted in traditional conservatism, the political courage to state his position and not waver and a sincere manner that reached people who are sated with political shuck and jive.

Even though the election is 6 months away, things are heating up. The state is heavily Democrat – Bush lost by some 1.3 million votes. Needless to say, it’ll be tough and expensive to win.

Simon – independently wealthy – has put in millions of his own, but his war chest is in the single-digit millions; Davis’ is double-digit and climbing. Simon benefited from Bush’s two-day visit last week, with fund-raisers bringing in nearly $4.5 million. Not bad, but not enough.

Davis is getting some bad press even though the last poll showed him ahead of Simon. There are reports he put the arm on several unions for million dollar “contributions.”

It’s also become public that Davis, who considered the teachers unions in his pocket, got a big “NO” when he hit them up for a cool million in “contributions.” (Keep in mind, education spending under Davis has increased some 30 percent in three years and the final budget is billions above legal requirements.)

Funny what happened then – Davis opposed legislation to expand teacher collective bargaining.

Is there a pattern for quid quo pro? There was criticism when Davis approved a huge pay raise for prison guards and then got a quarter million donation from their union. Criticism, yes, but he kept the money.

A report in the San Francisco Chronicle last week sheds light on a development firm, which got a $100 million investment from the California Public Employees Retirement System. The firm’s founder is hosting a $2,500 to $25,000-a-head Davis fundraiser in San Francisco with Al Gore attending. Denials are strong that there’s a relationship between the investment (followed by several individual large donations) and the fundraiser.

Republicans are asking questions about abuse of power. On the face of it, it appears the governor’s clout is used to get the bucks needed for Davis to lock-in his power and pave a fast track to Washington.

So why should you worry? Because if Davis travels across country, he’ll bring his baggage with him – typical, heavy-handed Democrat politics, questions of financial funny-business, buying favoritism and playing every minority against the other for votes. This is the man who said the job of the legislature is to carry out his will.

If you like big government, higher taxes and government interference in private lives – you’ll love Gray Davis.

So far, what Gray wants, Gray gets. And he really wants to be president. Watch out!

Barbara Simpson

Barbara Simpson, "The Babe in the Bunker," as she's known to her radio talk-show audience, has a 20-year radio, TV and newspaper career in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Read more of Barbara Simpson's articles here.