RHETORIC WATCH : $100,000 Question

Maybe Assembly Speaker Willie Brown had better make plans to move out of his glass house and into a brick fort if he’s going to talk like this.

During the wee-hours debate over the new state budget, the San Francisco lawmaker and lawyer used some choice language to deride the opposition of Los Angeles County officials to the proposed $299-million reduction in state aid to the county. He was almost suggesting that these “scalawags” who live on “bloated” salaries just weren’t comfortable with the Spartan life--as he presumably is.

“Los Angeles (supervisors) would squeal no matter how much you gave them. You can’t satisfy that appetite. There’s no way you can satisfy the appetite of people who personally have salaries of almost $100,000 a year.”

Brown is not exactly a poverty case himself. In addition to his official income as Speaker--$63,000 in salary and per diem expenses that can total $24,000 a year--Brown rakes in more from his San Francisco law practice. His client list has included major companies that do business with local and state agencies, though he says he does not represent them before the state. It’s been said that for Willie Brown, a hundred grand is not much more than walking-around money. Indeed, his own income and high lifestyle have raised many an eyebrow.

Whether there are too many L.A. officials making $100,000 or more is a fair question. But it’s astounding to hear it asked by Brown. It takes more than mere audacity for him to lecture others about frugality and appearances in government.