GOVERNOR KILLS FEWER MEASURES 22 PERCENT OF BILLS VETOED.

Byline: HARRISON SHEPPARD Sacramento Bureau

Reflecting a year of cooperation with Democratic lawmakers, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger marked the end of the legislative bill-signing period Saturday, vetoing bills at a lower rate than in the first two years of his term and approving several measures he had previously rejected.

The flurry of last-minute signings came as analysts said Schwarzenegger has taken more moderate public positions this year and departed from the more conservative and strident tone of last fall's special election campaign.

``The signing decisions are more reminiscent of 2004 than 2005,'' said Tim Hodson, executive director of the Center for California Studies at California State University, Sacramento. ``Whether the explanation is election-year politics or that 2005 was an anomaly entirely depends on your view of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

``One of the fundamental questions of this election is which Gov. Schwarzenegger will be sworn in next January.''

Schwarzenegger signed 910 bills this year and vetoed 262, or 22 percent of the total sent to his desk. In both of his first two years in office, he averaged a veto rate of 24 percent.

In 2005, Schwarzenegger signed 729 bills and vetoed 232. From the start of his term on Nov. 17, 2003, to the end of the 2004 session, he signed 959 bills and vetoed 311.

But some critics said Schwarzenegger's more moderate stance is simply a bid by the Republican governor to win re-election in a Democratic state.

``Schwarzenegger's continually changing his positions, masquerading as a Democrat this election year in an effort to save his own hide,''

said Brian Brokaw, a spokesman for state Treasurer Phil Angelides, Schwarzenegger's Democratic rival in the governor's race.

Brokaw noted that Schwarzenegger had previously opposed raising the minimum wage and lowering the price of prescription drugs, but signed such measures this year.

Schwarzenegger's campaign countered that the governor should be credited for working with the Legislature this year, just as he declared he would after acknowledging that's what voters wanted when they rejected his special-election measures in 2005.

``When Phil Angelides attacks the governor for breaking through the Sacramento gridlock and successfully working with the Legislature in a bipartisan fashion, Phil Angelides is living up to his reputation as a pessimistic, partisan Sacramento politician,'' said Schwarzenegger campaign spokesman Matt David.

Democratic lawmakers were generally pleased with the governor's actions this year, though they were disappointed by some of his vetoes.

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, said he disagreed with the governor's vetoes of a universal health care proposal, workers' compensation reforms and a bill granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

But Nunez still called the governor's attitude a ``sea change from last year'' and said it was a good year for the Democratic agenda.

``If you look at the last year, it was pretty clear that he had a failed agenda, one which would move the state further to the right,'' Nunez said. ``California voters sent him a message that that's not the direction they want to go in. So this year, he wrapped himself around the Democratic flag.''

Even while siding with Democrats on many issues, Schwarzenegger managed to keep his business allies satisfied. The California Chamber of Commerce listed 39 ``job killer'' bills that it strongly opposed this year, saying they would harm the economy.

Chamber spokesman Vince Sollitto said only 11 of those made it to the governor's desk and as of Friday, he had vetoed seven and signed two, both related to global warming.

harrison.sheppard(at)dailynews.com

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IT'S THE LAW

A look at some of the bills signed and vetoed this session by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Most bills take effect Jan. 1. For more information, go to www.leginfo.ca.gov or www.gov.ca.gov/bills.

BILLS THAT MADE IT:

LAUSD: AB 1381, giving Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa partial control over the Los Angeles Unified School District, including veto power over the hiring and firing of a superintendent and direct control over the lowest-performing schools.

Global warming: AB 32, seeking significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Minimum wage: AB 1835, raising the state minimum wage from $6.75 an hour to $7.50 an hour in 2007 and $8 an hour in 2008.

Cell phones: SB 1613, prohibiting use of cell phones while driving unless they're used with a hands-free device. Takes effect July 1, 2008.

Cable competition: AB 2987, opens the cable television market to competition.

Armenian Genocide: SB 1524, allows any victim of the Armenian Genocide who lives in California to bring legal action against a financial institution to recover looted or stolen assets.

Prescription drugs: AB 2911, creates a discount drug program for uninsured low-income Californians.

THOSE THAT DIDN'T:

Driver's licenses: SB 1162, would have allowed illegal immigrants to obtain California driver's licenses.

Universal health care: SB 840, would have created a state-run single-payer system providing health insurance to all Californians.

Sexual orientation: SB 1437, would have prohibited instruction or use of classroom materials that reflect poorly on people because of their sexual orientation.

Health insurance: SB 1414, would have required large employers to spend a fixed percentage of employee wages on health insurance.

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IT'S THE LAW (see text)