The movers arrived Friday morning and spent the entire day loading their trucks and moving us across town. Most people took the day off or worked from home, but some spent the evening helping unload the trucks. Saturday brought a new day of fun, when many of us returned to the new office to help the I.S. team set up all the new computers and get the office ready for everyone. But the work didn't end Saturday night -- the dedicated I.S. team worked right through the weekend to ensure that the rest of us will be ready to go back to work Monday morning.

If you're a new subscriber and wondering what in the world I'm talking about...well, I simply edit this newsletter from San Francisco and work a full-time job that has absolutely nothing to do with Capitol Enquiry or Capitol Action Weekly.

Still confused? Drop me a line and I'll explain. Otherwise, have a great week and thanks for reading!

-Gabe

*************************** ADVERTISEMENT *************************** YOUR AD HERE! Want to send a message to 1,600+ individuals each week? Place your ad here! This newsletter is not spam, so everyone who receives it has asked for it. For rates and other information on advertising, drop a message to ads@capenq.com. *********************************************************************

Since the departure of Willie Brown in the mid-1990s, the Assembly speakership has deteriorated into a position of largely ceremonial importance. The speaker is the titular head of the majority party, true, but the speaker's traditional authority to reward friends, punish enemies and keep the squabbling lawmakers in line has withered dramatically.

Who fears a speaker who won't be around very long?

This is largely due to the voter-imposed term limits that force Assembly members out of office after three terms, or six years, which is not enough time for a good politician of the stripe of a Brown or Jesse Unruh to forge the personal alliances that are required for a truly strong speaker. The real focus of legislative power resides in the head of the Senate, a position now held by Democratic Sen. John Burton of San Francisco.

When Burton departs, the next Senate leader likely will have more real authority than his Assembly counterpart, if only because the Senate's term limits allow two more years than the Assembly's.

It is arguable whether the decline of the speakership is a good thing, as far as public policy is concerned. But it does mean that the Assembly plays less of a role in California governance, simply because the leader of the Assembly counts for less in the crucial, behind-the-scenes negotiations with the governor over state spending, appointments, reapportionment and other issues.

To some extent, the power of the speaker has been diluted among the heads of the Assembly's committees and, to a lesser degree, among the Assembly's professional staff. These people are less beholden to the speaker than their predecessors, a fact that has been carefully noted by lobbyists and others who deal with the Assembly.

Ever since the Legislature became a full-time body 34 years ago and until Brown's departure, the speaker of the Assembly generally was a power to be reckoned with. But the speaker now, following several years of turmoil, is relatively toothless -- the title remains but the clout doesn't.

At its zenith, the speaker was a sort of benevolent despot who could deliver votes and negotiate compromises. That is no longer true.

Indeed, the speaker's principal role may be to expedite fund-raising, an important activity for lawmakers but one that really doesn't resonate with the public. It is hard to picture Hertzberg in the same role as Unruh or Brown, who dealt with governors -- and often outfoxed them -- with relative ease and who were well-known politicians when they assumed the speakership. Moreover, Hertzberg does not have the institutional heft that comes with serving for decades in the lower house and learning its every nuance.

Hertzberg will replace Antonio Villaraigosa, who hopes to become mayor of Los Angeles and who was equally obscure when he won the speakership. Hertzberg's successor is likely to be equally obscure.

For those among the public who resented the speaker's clout, this turnstile quality of leadership may not appear to be objectionable.

But for those who savored a well-run house, this constant shuffling seems inefficient and demeaning, a deterioration of a position that was once significant.

Hertzberg is perhaps best known as a man who impulsively hugs his colleagues. One wonders if this trait will survive as he becomes aware that a job with little more than title is not really much of a job at all.

Thanks for your excellent article on California's budget surplus.

The news that the budget surplus may be as much as $6 billion is in stark contrast to the terrible state of California's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program:

Governor Davis recently publicly recognized the shortcomings of the state's IHSS program, which exists to help some 200,000 seniors and people with disabilities to continue living in their own homes: With the providers of care being paid the minimum wage ($5.75), tens of thousands of people go without any care for months on end; thousands surrender themselves to nursing homes because of the labor shortage (at a much greater cost to the state's budget) and the dedicated home care workers are paid under the poverty line.

But while recognizing these problems, the governor's "Aging With Dignity" proposal within the January budget document fell far short of a solution: The plan calls for a 35 cent raise in state funding for workers' pay for each of the next five years. Adjusted for inflation, the state's 180,000 home care workers would be earning $6.81 five years from now.

If the crisis in California's home care program can't be effectively addressed in a $6 billion budget surplus year, what can any of us look forward to when we are old enough to need care ourselves?

- Dana Simon
Oakland, Calif.

This handy directory lists alphabetically all agency and department-level organizations, most division and branch level offices. Names and titles of state offices and officials, with addresses, phone and fax numbers. Where a vacancy exists the position is listed without a name. Convenient 4" x 9" fits in your briefcase or on your desk. With the election of a Democratic Governor, major shifts are occurring in personnel and state agency structure. Order now at: http://www.capenq.com/order or fax (916) 442-1260.

*** NOW TAKING ORDERS FOR 2000 PUBLICATIONS! ***

*** 2000 Pocket Directory of the California Legislature ***

You need the 2000 Pocket Directory now! To be published March of 2000. Stay up-to-date on Legislative contact information. Order the newest edition of "the little red book" today! Place your secure online order through our Web site: http://www.capenq.com/order, or fax (916) 442-1260.

*** 2000 U.S. Congress Directory ***

Order the 2000 U.S. Congress Directory now! To be published March of 2000. Stay up-to-date on Congressional contact information for the entire U.S. Order the newest edition today! Place your secure online order through our Web site: http://www.capenq.com/order or fax (916) 442-1260.

*** UPDATED INFORMATION NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE ***

*** Committee Rosters ***

You asked for it, you got it! The updated listings for both Assembly and Senate committees are now available through our Web site. Point your browser to http://www.capenq.com/gov/info.html for links to the rosters.

*** Current Legislative Rosters ***

Looking for the current rosters of the Assembly or Senate? Head on over to http://www.capenq.com/gov/info.html for links to the current lists -- updated with district, member name, party, room and phone number.