The California assemblywoman pushing an initiative for a part-time Legislature said she isn't worried that only $85,000 has been raised for the drive thus far.

"We are meeting with donors," said Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield. "We're very encouraged by some of the meetings that we've just had in the last few days."

Neither Democratic nor Republican lawmakers have reached into their pocketbooks thus far, however, state records show.

Weeks after the signature-gathering campaign began, Grove's largest donation was $30,000 from her own Assembly coffers.

No contributions have come from key Capitol interest groups, wealthy political activists, or the state's two major political parties.

Grove views her proposal as pitting ordinary voters against a Legislature that causes more problems than it solves.

"Special interests run the building, and it's truly not a Legislature by the people, of the people, for the people," she said.

Meeting Tuesday with The Bee's Capitol Bureau, Grove said that a part-time Legislature would reduce the time that lawmakers would have to inflict damage on the state. She said she is optimistic about raising $2.6 million from business owners and others frustrated by the thousands of bills that lawmakers propose each year, some targeting frivolous issues.

Grove said the proposed constitutional amendment polls well among voters and that she is pleased by contributions that have ranged from $33 to $25,000 thus far.

"I think it shows a broad base of support and not just a particular industry that's involved in this," she said.

Grove's proposal would reduce the legislative year from nine months to three, cut lawmakers' annual pay from $95,000 to $18,000, require legislators to adopt two-year state budgets, and bar officeholders from accepting state employment or appointment to a state post while serving in the Capitol or for five years afterward.

Grove is teaming with Ted Costa of People's Advocate and Republican political consultant Mark Abernathy in pushing the initiative, which must gather 807,615 signatures by July 2 to qualify for the November ballot. Abernathy worked on Grove's Assembly campaign in 2010.

Costa said that state policy is heavily influenced by an "oligarchy" of Capitol interests – from the teachers union to the state chamber of commerce – that he expects to oppose the initiative.

"I make no bones about it," he said. "I represent the people that pay the bill."

Opponents fired a political slap Tuesday at Grove, requesting that she voluntarily reduce her $95,291 salary and per diem payments of $142 per day while the Legislature is in session.

Former Democratic Assemblyman Dario Frommer, now a Los Angeles attorney, said that Grove would be more credible if she would "practice what she preaches."

Grove said that she accepted more than $26,000 in per diem last year to keep it out of the hands of the Assembly's Democratic leader. She donated nearly all of it to nonprofit groups or community projects, Grove said.

Lawmakers currently are required to be in Sacramento nine months per year, so Grove said that she accepts her $95,291 salary to help defray expenses of maintaining a capital residence.

Frommer has joined forces with Democratic political strategist Steve Maviglio, former spokesman to Assembly Speakers Fabian Núñez and Karen Bass, to lead opposition to Grove's initiative.

"We're focused on trying to keep it off the ballot," Frommer said.

Added Maviglio: "It's designed to capture voter backlash against the Legislature, but it would make a bad situation even worse."

Critics of the initiative contend it would lead to a Legislature of inexperienced officeholders heavily dependent upon staff and lobbyists.

Because they could not earn a livable wage as a legislator, many potential candidates in the low and middle classes would be discouraged from running, opponents contend.

"Legislating should not be a hobby for rich people," Maviglio said.

Critics say the measure also could lead to a more corrupt Legislature, populated by politicians who need outside income and who might be more inclined to push legislation that would benefit themselves or business associates.

Grove countered that Texas does not have a full-time Legislature, yet it manages to elect a broad array of candidates – a barber, print shop owner, some lawyers, doctors, real estate developers and a nurse, among others.

The Bakersfield Republican also scoffed at the notion that a part-time Legislature would increase the power of lobbyists or Capitol staff.

"The bottom line is, it's still the legislator who has to push the button and vote on the issue," Grove said.

The Legislature's wheels grind slowly and many floor sessions early in the year are over in less than an hour, so calling it a full-time job is hard to justify, according to Grove.

"We truly do work part time right now," she said.

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Call Jim Sanders, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5538.

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