CAPITOL NOTEBOOK: ASSEMBLYMAN APPALLS PEERS WITH PROFANITY.

Byline: Terri Hardy and Dorothy Korber

ASSEMBLYMAN Richard Floyd, D-Carson, uses the words ``hell'' and ``damn'' more often than a revivalist preacher. Like bobbing bits of trash on the Los Angeles River, such short profanities flow easily through his conversation - even on the Assembly floor.

Floyd's free-floating curses offend Assemblyman Tom McClintock, R-Granada Hills. ``I have objected to Mr. Floyd's profanities,'' McClintock told us as we sat on the Capitol balcony on a glorious spring day. ``That sort of behavior is antithetical to the decorum and dignity of a house that is entrusted by the people to conduct the state's affairs.''

But Democrat Floyd, who represents the Los Angeles Harbor area, is hardly cowed by the staid Republican.

This week, during an Assembly debate on the never-ending squabble between Downey City Hall and Downey Community Hospital, Floyd was in classic form. ``What the hell?'' he asked rhetorically. ``Damn sure,'' he answered himself.

Speaker Pro Tem Fred Keeley, D-Santa Cruz, chairing the meeting, cleared his throat. ``I have been told to admonish you for using such words,'' he said.

``What words?'' demanded Floyd. Keeley said he would not be tricked into repeating the offending dialogue. ``I simply admonish you,'' Keeley said.

Floyd squared his broad shoulders and glared at Keeley. ``I will try to restrain myself,'' Floyd growled, ``from using such outrageous language as `damn sure' and `what the hell.' ''

Hot air

Last summer, many children throughout the Los Angeles Unified School District sat through yet another broiling summer because of a host of errors, mishaps and prolonged contract negotiations to ``fast track'' air-conditioning installation. In 1999, as the weather starts to heat up, it looks like the LAUSD is at it again.

The state set up a program offering $68 million to pay 100 percent of air-conditioning costs in year-round schools. State Allocation Board officials said the LAUSD was late in applying for the funds and then pulled several of their schools off the state application list. That means that the LAUSD will now have to shell out additional money for the work, with probable delays on the horizon.

Of course, offices at district headquarters got their new air conditioning last year, so perhaps beating the heat is no longer at the top of their priority list.

Tax cuts

With gasoline prices rising to astounding heights, Assembly members Tony Strickland, R-Camarillo, and Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, have come up with an idea that would give motorists a hefty price break.

Their bill, AB 1315, will eliminate a double taxing of gasoline - the state sales tax charged on federal and state gas excise taxes. Consumers could pay 45 cents less for each tank of gas with the tax cut.

Automobile owners would get another break under ACA 1, a constitutional amendment by Assemblyman McClintock that would eliminate the vehicle license fee. McClintock is also working to bring the same proposal to the voters in 2000 with a statewide initiative.

But don't start spending those tax cuts just yet. One savvy insider summed up their chances like this: ``You're going to see a lot of Republican bills that don't get very far.''

Bills to watch

SB 741 by state Sen. Deirdre ``Dede'' Alpert, D-San Diego, would require children entering school in the year 2001 and after to be vaccinated against chicken pox.

AB 1094 by Assemblyman Robert Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, would allow citizens to register and vote on Election Day.