John Eisenhut may try again for state Assembly in 2010

By Judy Sly
jsly@modbee.com

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Democrat John Eisenhut of Turlock, who came within 5,000 votes of being elected to the Assembly in November, might run again in 2010. Eisenhut, a farmer and banker, said he hasn't made a commitment but is staying engaged, which includes filing the necessary campaign paperwork with the secretary of state. Eisenhut lost in the surprisingly close race to Bill Berryhill, also a farmer, for the seat vacated by Republican Greg Aghazarian.

Generally, it's much harder to run against an incumbent, but there are two unknowns for the future. First, Californians are mighty peeved with the Legislature for its failure to act on the state budget crisis, and that could hurt all incumbents in 2010. Second, we'll eventually see new Assembly district boundaries as a result of Proposition 11, creating all sorts of new possibilities.

Too often, elected leaders have to plead for people to serve on advisory boards and commissions. Not so for Modesto's first Entertainment Commission, which will determine which businesses and organizations get permits to offer live entertainment and special events. Twenty-two people applied for the seven unpaid positions. Three are not Modesto voters, so the field is narrowed to 19. The City Council's Safety and Communities Committee is working on setting up interviews with the applicants.

Members of Congress automatically got an annual $4,700 pay raise this month -- a subject that is irritating a lot of constituents in these tough times. It lifts federal lawmakers' base salaries to $174,000 a year, an increase of 2.8 percent from 2008.

Some representatives, sensitive to the criticism, are donating the increase. Through a press release, Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, said his money will be divided among five charities in his 11th district. McNerney's money is going to Catholic Charities of Stockton; Dignity's Alcove, a Stockton organization that provides transitional housing and substance abuse counseling for veterans; Greater Stockton Emergency Food Bank; Tri-Valley Haven, which provides shelter and counseling for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence in the Pleasanton area; and Village Community Resource Center in Brentwood, which operates after-school programs and family support and health services. Sen. Dianne Feinstein indicated earlier that she would also donate her raise to charity.

Meanwhile, there's a move afoot for a vote to repeal the raise. Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, said he has always voted against the raise and will vote that way again -- if it is a stand-alone proposal. But there's rumor it will be tucked in as an amendment to a procedural bill on other subjects, in which case Cardoza says he'll support the wishes of his party.

Through a spokesman, Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, indicated he would support a bill to repeal the raise and if the raise goes through he will donate it to charity.

I know I'm out of the mainstream on this, but I don't think $174,000 is out of line for what we ask of congressional members. Only a small part of their time is spent in formal sessions. The best ones devote phenomenal hours to studying issues and finding ways to solve problems besides passing legislation.

Nor do I believe that $116,000 is an outrageous salary for state legislators -- if they are getting things accomplished.

Here's an idea I can thoroughly support -- a cap on how many bills legislators can introduce each year. Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg told The Sacramento Bee he wants such a limit in 2009 to try to keep lawmakers focused on the budget. Currently, senators are limited to 50 bills over a two-year session and members of the Assembly to 40 bills. Steinberg is suggesting a limit of 15 bills for this year, but of course his idea will need the support of fellow Democrats, including Assembly Speaker Karen Bass.

Letters to the Editor demonstrate that citizens are cranky about wasteful spending, or what they perceive as wasteful spending. In November, the Modesto City Council approved a two-year, $22,000 contract providing gym memberships to firefighters. We've printed several letters objecting to it.

Well, the expenditure has been called off.

First, some background. The gym memberships -- at the bargain rate of $5 per month for 189 people in the Fire Department -- were part of a memorandum of understanding (think union contract) that the council had previously approved. So it wasn't a whimsical move. Chief Jim Miguel said the Fire Department has, over the past 10 years, stressed quarterly physical fitness testing as a way to assure that firefighters can handle their physically demanding jobs and can avoid injuries.

Given the criticism after the November vote, the chief and the head of the firefighters' union agreed to suspend the gym contract. The department was already phasing out the gym membership in favor of a fitness program led by peers within the department, Miguel said. Meanwhile, Brenda Athletic Clubs is offering a reduced rate for individual firefighters who want to remain members. It's a good outcome all the way around.

Sly is editor of The Bee's Opinions Pages. Contact her at 578-2317 or jsly@modbee.com.