Descriptive Summary
Administrative Information
Biography
State Assembly, 1983-1996
Scope and Content
Accruals
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Phil Isenberg Papers
Dates: 1983-1996
Collection number: LP431
Creator:
Phil Isenberg, California Legislator
Collection Size:
13.75 cubic feet
Repository:
California State Archives
Abstract: The Phil Isenberg Papers consist of 13.75 cubic feet of textual and audio-visual records and cover the years 1983-1996. The
collection is organized into three record series: Bill Files (1983-1996), Proposition 39 Correspondence (1984), and Subject
Files (1983-1985). The Bill Files document his legislative activity during his term as a member of the California State Legislature.
The bills introduced by Phil Isenberg include a wide array of subjects such as water issues, healthcare reform, and local
government.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Administrative Information
Access
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
Publication Rights
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Phil Isenberg Papers, LP431:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary
of State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
The California State Archives acquired the Phil Isenberg Papers following his final term in the State Legislature.
Biography
California legislator Phil L. Isenberg, Democrat, was a State Assembly Member 1983-1996. He first represented the 10th Assembly
District but, due to redistricting, he ran in the 9th Assembly District in 1992. The 9th Assembly District was entirely in
Sacramento County and encompassed the central portion of the city of Sacramento and the Natomas and Laguna areas. Isenberg
served the 9th Assembly District until leaving office due to term limits in 1996. He also served as the assistant Speaker
Pro Tempore from 1986-1988.
He was born on February 25, 1939, in Gary, Indiana and moved to California in 1945. Isenberg graduated from California State
University, Sacramento with a bachelor's degree in Social Science and Government. He also holds a law degree from the University
of California, Berkeley. He was first elected to the Sacramento City Council in 1971 and served as mayor from 1975 until
his election to the State Assembly in 1982. While Isenberg was mayor he ran for Congress in 1978 but lost in the primary
to Robert Matsui.
Phil Isenberg served on the Constitutional Revision Commission, California Judicial Council, RAND Advisory Board on Immigration,
and the Milbank Foundation's Primary Care Project. Isenberg was appointed by Governor Gray Davis as an advisor to help prepare
the 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 budget. In 2004, Isenberg became the chair of the Marine Life Protection Act Blue Ribbon Task
Force. Currently he teaches public policy development and budget and fiscal policy at McGeorge School of Law. Isenberg previously
taught at Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley and the Graduate School of Public Policy at California State University,
Sacramento.
During his term in the Legislature, Phil Isenberg was a member of the following committees:
State Assembly, 1983-1996
-
Standing Committees
- Banking and Finance, 1995-1996
- Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency and Economic Development, 1995-1996
- Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments, 1987-1990
- Governmental Efficiency and Cost Control, 1983-1985
- Health, 1983-1994
- Vice-Chairman (1983-1984)
- Housing and Community Development, 1983-1996
- Judiciary, 1987-1996
- Chair (1988-1994)
- Public Safety, 1994
- Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments, 1987-1988
- Revenue and Taxation, 1989-1996
- Rules, 1983-1988
- Transportation, 1983-1984
- Utilities and Commerce, 1995-1996
- Water, Parks and Wildlife, 1983-1994
- Ways and Means, 1984-1988
-
Select Committees
- Census, 1989-1990
- Common Interest Subdivision, 1983-1984
- Fairs Allocation and Classification, 1983-1984
- Low Level Nuclear Waste, 1985-1986
- Oversight of the Office of Administrative Law, 1983-1984
- Property Tax and Local Government Finance, 1991-1992
- Restructuring Government, 1993-1994
- Victim Restitution, 1983-1984
-
Special Committees
- Medi-Cal Oversight, 1983-1992
- Oversight for Tobacco Tax Program, 1991-1992
- *Chair, 1991-1992
-
Subcommittees
- Administration of Justice, 1989-1992
- Courthouse Financing and Construction, 1989-1990
- Health on Heath Personnel, 1985-1990
- International Migration and Cooperative Development, 1987-1990
- Legislative Ethics, 1985-1990
- Refugee Resettlement, 1987-1990
- Resources, Agriculture and the Environment, 1987-1988
- Review of the Master Plan for Higher Education, 1985-1988
- Tort Liability, 1989-1990
- *Vice-Chairman (1989-1990)
- Ways and Means on Education, 1985-1986
- Ways and Means on Resources and Parks, 1985-1986
-
Joint Subcommittees
- Long Term Care, 1985-1986
-
Joint Committees
- Budget Committee, 1991-1992
- Ethics Committee, 1991-1992
- Rules, 1983-1988
-
Boards/Committees
- California Constitution Revision Commission, 1993-1994
- Capitol Area Committee, 1983-1992
- Judicial Council, 1989-1994
- Public Works Board, 1985-1994
- Task Force on Local Government Realignment, 1994-1995
- Wildlife Conservation Board, 1983-1994
In addition, Isenberg served as the Assistant Speaker pro Tempore (1986-1988).
Scope and Content
The Phil Isenberg Papers consist of 13.75 cubic feet of textual and audio-visual records and cover the years 1983-1996. The
collection is organized into three record series: Bill Files (1983-1996), Proposition 39 Correspondence (1984), and Subject
Files (1983-1985). The Bill Files document his legislative activity during his term as a member of the California State Legislature.
The bills introduced by Phil Isenberg include a wide array of subjects such as water issues, healthcare reform, and local
government.
The bill files are the largest series, comprising over 90% of the records. During Isenberg's term he authored several bills
that were deemed controversial in nature. In the 1987-1988 session he co-authored AB67, a bill that would require a minor
seeking an abortion to obtain parental consent. He also authored AB600 (1987-1988), which would have provided those unable
to obtain adequate health insurance with a form of catastrophic health insurance. This bill would have been financed by an
increase in the taxable wage ceiling of the state disability insurance tax. Another healthcare reform attempt included AB60
(1989-1990) which set up a state-sponsored insurance pool that allowed people with pre-existing conditions to be able to buy
adequate health coverage. This measure was financed in part by the Proposition 99 (1988) tobacco tax revenues to fund the
risk pool. Isenberg's AB1306 (1991-1992) would have allowed an employee who was fired for refusing to take a drug test to
be eligible for unemployment benefits. Other bills of interest include AB1455 (1993-1994), which would have prohibited the
execution of a mentally retarded person, and ACR27 (1993-1994), which banned smoking in the State Capitol.
The second series, Proposition 39 Correspondence (1984) relates to Proposition 39, which would have created a redistricting
commission to re-draw the boundaries for the state assembly, senate, Board of Equalization, and the U.S. congressional districts.
The measure would have allowed the Governor to select judges to appoint members to the redistricting committee. This plan
would have altered the districts and would most likely favor the Republican Party gaining seats in the state legislature as
well as California's congressional delegation. Speaker Willie Brown and Phil Isenberg worked together to defeat Proposition
39. Although the proposition was defeated, a similar independent citizen commission was established by Proposition 11 in
2008 to redraw the districts. The Subject Files are the second largest record series and relate to issues such as education
and gay rights. There are also several subject files relating to business practices and the environment. Other significant
topics include an overview of the crime rate and community college funding.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Isenberg, Phillip
Housing - California
California. Legislature. Assembly. Health Committee