Governor sought gain for self, not UCs
Tuesday, November 25, 1997
Governor sought gain for self, not UCs
BENEFITS: Wilson's uncouth tactics confirm that university, presidential politics shouldn't mix
Last week, Gov. Pete Wilson went to extremes. He was out to empower himself at the cost of the university. The governor showed he would do anything to achieve an end. He showed he would even resort to prostituting the UC Board of Regents for his own political gain.
The Board of Regents met and approved a measure to provide health benefits to same-sex employees.
However, the meeting did not go without a few hitches - namely three new regent appointments at the last minute. Wilson's shuffling and maneuvering of regents proves the board has become too political - and the governor potentially can shape university policy for his own gain at the expense of the university.
The regents made a wise decision despite Wilson's all-out attempts to block the benefits. The board not only amended the proposal to grant benefits for domestic partners, but also extended it to those who "are incapable under California law of a valid marriage because of family relationship," thereby not violating the anti-discrimination statute of the university.
Wilson argued that because heterosexual unmarried couples are not entitled to benefits, while homosexual couples are, the extension of benefits would constitute a violation of anti-discrimination policies.
The heated debate over whether to grant benefits to domestic partners has been the subject of much attention in the past few years, so much so that Wilson actually decided to show up and vote. For the first time since the affirmative action debates in 1995, the ex officio regent attended a UC Regent meeting.
Wilson is simply using this divisive debate in hopes of securing a Republican nomination for a possible bid for the presidency in 2000, similar to the way he used the affirmative action debates in his last attempt for the nomination.
While the regents were able to withstand Wilson's last-ditch efforts to vote the proposition down, the battle was very close, winning 13-12. Wilson sunk to new lows in his latest ploy. Prior to the meeting Thursday there were three vacancies among the 18 regent seats appointed by the governor. Fearing the regents he appointed earlier in his term would approve the benefits package, a desperate and cunning Wilson resorted to appointing additional regents to swing the vote. Democrat Ralph Ochoa was named a regent days before the regents convened, and John Hotchikis and Carol Chandler were appointed the morning of the final vote.
Wilson's efforts to stack the board indicate he has little respect for the UC as an institution of higher education, and he simply views the board as his political weapon. While Wilson was defeated this time, the prospects of a possible victory show how dangerous it is to put the needs of a university in the hands of a self-serving politician.
The regents should be applauded for not swaying to Wilson's objections and approving the measure.
The fact that Wilson could have won by stacking the board is evidence that the current system of regent appointments is in dire need of reform.
The University of California, under the state Constitution, is supposed to be "independent and free of partisan and sectarian influence." But the last-minute appointments show a degradation of those principles.
Wilson's conduct indicates the danger in giving him so much power - especially when it involves institutions that should not be embroiled in politics. His vile tactics nearly secured a victory, one which would not be based on the best interests of the university but on his own gain.
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