1. PS 103A: Professionalizing the California Legislature

3. Professionalizing the California Legislature
Artie Samish and His Amateurs
Jesse Unruh and Professionalism
Moving the 3rd House into the Speaker’s Office
Defining Professionalism
Evaluating the Reforms

4. Artie Samish and His Amateurs
"And how are you today, Mr. Legislature?" – Colliers Magazine, August, 1949.

5. Artie Samish and His Amateurs
Until his 1953 income tax evasion conviction, Artie Samish claimed to be the “Secret Boss of California.”
He represented the liquor industry, horse racing, banks, chemical manufacturers, and transportation.
Samish took payments from companies and turned them into votes.

6. Artie Samish and His Amateurs
How Did the System Work?
Select and Elect. Samish says that he mostly selected likeminded candidates and helped them win.
Campaign Contributions in exchange for influence.
“Shrimp Hour”

7. Artie Samish and His Amateurs
What was the Legislature like circa 1950?
Influenced by “the third house,” which dangled answers and treats.
Possessed of less information and patience than the full time executive branch.
Tilted in favor of rural interests.

8. Artie Samish and His Amateurs
Malapportionment: Any drawing of legislative districts that does not lead to equal populations in districts.
California’s 80-member Assembly was loosely based on population, but 40-member Senate went by county lines.
7 million voters vs. 29,000 voters.
Outlawed by Baker v. Carr (1962)

9. Jesse Unruh and Professionalism
Elected to the Assembly from Los Angeles in 1954, Unruh shifted power in the Legislature by:
Moving the 3rd House to the Speaker’s office
“Professionalizing” the Legislature through Proposition 1A in 1966

10. Jesse Unruh and Professionalism Moving the Third House
How Did the New System Work?
Howard Ahmanson’s Home Savings and Loan Money went to Unruh.
“Big Daddy” dispensed campaign funds, legislative perks, and other goodies to those in need.
Legislators supported him for Speaker and his interests

11. Jesse Unruh and Professionalism Professionalization
As Speaker from , Unruh “professionalized” the Legislature:
Staff – More and more expert
Salaries – Enough to make it a career
Session Length – Full time.

12. Jesse Unruh and Professionalism Professionalization

13. Jesse Unruh and Professionalism Professionalization
Proposition 1A in 1966
Allowed the Legislature to set its own calendar and salaries.
Passed by a 3-1 margin.
Unruh also hired expert staffers so that the Legislature could be independent of lobbyists and the governor.

14. Evaluating the Reforms
The Benefits of Professionalism
Made Legislature transformative. In contrast to a parliament that rubber stamps cabinet requests, it could change proposals and design bills of its own
Expert staff made lobbyists less powerful
Full-time members not tied to the whims or special interest of a day job

15. Evaluating the Reforms
The Problems with Professionalism
Power of incumbency grows with increased resources, makes government less responsive
Special interests still wield power through campaign contributions
“Career politicians” drawn from ranks of staff and local office

16. What Else Has Changed? Partisan Polarization

17. Districts Have Grown with the State

18. Cost of Campaigns Skyrocketed

19. Budgets Are Often Late

20. Discussion Questions
Has the California’s Legislature come full circle from the Artie Samish era to today?
Would you support an initiative to “deprofessionalize” the legislature? Why or why not?