Strong Regional Agency Proposal Failing

A once sprawling proposal to introduce a new strong regionalgovernment to San Diego County, California, has beenreduced from its original scope to legislation to replace the San DiegoAssociation of Governments (SANDAG) with a new transportation and planning agency. The two legislators who are movingsimilar bills to create the new agency -- Assemblywoman Christine Kehoe(D-San Diego) and state Sen. Steve Peace (D-El Cajon) -- are trying to workout a compromise among local governments in the county over the structureof SANDAG's replacement. Despite the uncertainties, Kehoe says she plans tokeep moving her bill through the Legislature. Peace plans to hold his billin the Senate Appropriations Committee until the summer so that anagreement can be struck.