Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez’s morning news conference was billed as a preview of his trip to a Swiss economic forum touting California’s global warming initiatives. But before it was over, he found himself sticking up for some issues, hinting at compromise on others, and avoiding a comment on a few topics at all cost.

Nunez will attend next week’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland to brag a little about AB 32, the greenhouse gas reduction law he co-authored in 2006. He will reportedly be only one of two elected officials from California in attendance [note: an earlier version of this posting said he was the only one, but an astute CN reader pointed out the somewhat controversial atttendance of SF Mayor Gavin Newsom]. Governor Schwarzenegger had originally wanted to attend, but his healing right femur is keeping him from any international travels these days. Nunez’s office says the LA Democrat will also participate in a BBC televised debate on global warming issues.

And the Speaker told reporters that he even paid $136 to the Davos Climate Alliance in “carbon offsets”– thereby finding a way to balance the environmental impact of his flight overseas.

Also from the Nunez chat with the Capitol press corps:

* The Speaker said his friends in the environmental community may be rushing to conclusions in their opposition to liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals off the California coast. “I choose my words very carefully,” he said. But he added, “when we’re looking at alternative fuels, we’ve got to look to all the things that are out there. And I don’t think we ought to draw the line in the sand on LNG.”

* The chances of the long-delayed high speed rail bonds actually making it to the voters next year may not be as glum as thought earlier this month. Just before the State of the State address, aides to Governor Schwarzenegger suggested the $9 billion in bonds for the project not only be taken off the 2008 ballot, but possibly sidelined for good. But Speaker Nunez today expressed support for a 2008 bond measure. “I think it’s the right thing to do,” he said.

* Nunez is a skilled negotiator… for proof, take his answer on whether plans for new dams on California rivers should move forward. Most Democrats loathe the idea; most Republicans, including the governor, think new water storage is vital. “I didn’t even realize how religious an issue water storage was,” Nunez said about last year’s legislative fracas on the issue. But just moments after saying he agrees with most Democrats who oppose new dams, the Speaker said this: “If there’s a deal on something here [at the Capitol] that’s going to help poor people, that’s going to expand health care coverage to every Californian… I might be more open to taking a look.”

* And while he walked a tightrope on the subject of dams, the Speaker dodged the issue completely when talk turned to a soon-to-be-introduced bill from Assemblymember Sally Lieber (D-Mountain View) to put restrictions on the spanking of children.

Was Nunez spanked as a child? “My father tried to spank me a couple of times, but he had to chase me around the block, because he couldn’t catch me.” Does he spank his children? “No, I don’t spank my kids.” Will he support Lieber’s bill? Ah, the tough question.

“This is a very deep, personal issue for families,” Nunez said. Looks like the Speaker’s father is not the only one who can’t catch him.