KNAPPSTER George Knapp is a longtime reporter and anchor for KLAS Channel 8.

Thursday, June 05, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

Knappster: GOP assemblymen gum up legislative works

By George Knapp

CARSON CITY--Sandie the Sidewalk Soothsayer reads rocks. The other day, as a lark, I asked her to do a reading of her rocks to discern when the 2003 Nevada Legislature might wrap up its business.

She looked at the brightly colored pieces of stone that I had selected from her little table and told me it would be at least two weeks before lawmakers would finish their work, and she said they had about 17 major issues still to consider. At the time of her prediction, the Legislature was still in its regular session and was steaming toward the finish line. Sandie's rocks didn't seem to be too prescient. But now the rock lady's guess is looking more and more believable.

At the time I'm writing this, lawmakers are struggling to resolve a seemingly impossible tax and budget quagmire in a special session called by Gov. Kenny Guinn. The Guv gave them until Friday to reach an agreement on a tax package and said that should be plenty of time. Unfortunately, I'd say Mr. Guinn is woefully optimistic.

The term used most often up here to describe the regular session is "train wreck." There is a gnawing suspicion that the train wreck was engineered on purpose by Assembly Republicans, who aren't exactly denying the accusation. In fact, they are telling anyone who will listen that they will probably crash a few locomotives in the special session as well. By the time you folks read this, it's entirely possible this special session will have ended in a stalemate and that Guinn will be planning when to schedule the next one. (Perhaps the Guv's staffers might want to consult with Sandie before picking a date.)

Now, why would Assembly Republicans do something like this on purpose? In a nutshell, they're feeling neglected. The Democratic leadership sort of steamrolled through the regular session, approved a whopping budget package, and tried to slam dunk a tax package to go with it. Although Republicans are griping and growling about the huge spending plan (the numbers vary depending on who you talk to), many of these same members voted for big chunks of the budget. This is the "have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too" theory of government, in which lawmakers can appear to be concerned about education and social services, but then vote against the taxes needed to fund the budgets they appproved. (Sen. Sandra Tiffany, a Republican from Henderson, even enunciated this contradictory position when she told the R-J that she "loves government but just won't fund it.")

When Knappster raised the issue of a Republican cabal intent on sabotaging the regular session during the end-game hours, GOP types poo-poohed the suggestion and seemed insulted that anyone would even raise it. But in the waning moments of the session, when it was apparent that they had, in fact, thwarted a tax agreement and were heading toward a special session, there were grins, smirks and snickers. Some of the ringleaders of the strategy even bragged about it afterward.

"They were gloating on the floor when it became apparent that we would go to a special session," complained Democratic Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani. "That's disgusting. They didn't have the courage to fund the budget and wanted a train wreck. It's total irresponsible and they shouldn't ever run for office again."

After firing off a few other fireballs, the flame-throwing assemblywoman pointed out that the huge tax increase being sought by Guinn and legislative leaders is something the Nevada business community committed to two years ago. Business leaders acknowledged there were terrible spending shortages, resulting in Nevada's poor rankings in virtually every social index, and they committed themselves to pitching in to fix things. They agreed that a broad-based tax plan was needed. This commitment became more apparent in the task force study, which these same lawmakers authorized, a study that clearly documented the need for a stable, broad-based source of funding.

Now, however, the business folks are balking. They want tax increases, as long as they don't have to pay for them. GOP lawmakers have done a pretty thorough job of gumming up the works, protecting these businesses from paying their fair share of the state budget. The gross receipts tax is history. The Unified Business Tax is likewise dead meat. And Republican leaders are vowing they will defeat any other tax strategy as well, not because they don't like the other tax plans, but because they don't want to raise so much money. ($860 million, by some estimates, or $1.2 billion, if you believe the GOP.)

So where does that leave us? In a nasty stalemate that very likely will result in another special session. GOP assemblyman say they plan to stick together to derail any tax plan that is considered, that is, until they force big budget cuts. Unfortunately, most of the budget has already been approved by the Legislature. It's been signed into law by Guinn. The only item left on the table to cut is education. Is that what the Republicans want to chop?

No one can fault these guys for sticking to their guns. They were elected by conservative voters to keep an eye on government spending. Lawmakers like Bob Beers have been totally upfront about where they stand on spending. They know stunts like this will only help them the next time they face a Republican primary. (Beers reportedly plans to take on GOP Sen. Ray Rawson the next time around and will use his tax stand as a campaign platform.)

But some of these fellas have been a little disingenuous. They either voted in favor of big-ticket budget items or they conveniently were out of the room when such votes were taken, and are now trying to have it both ways. To put it succinctly, that sucks. And to make certain that all the members of their cadre stick together, party leaders issued an unusual edict the other day. They decreed that no Republican assemblyman is allowed to speak one-on-one with the governor. Such chats would have to include a designated "handler." Now, how telling is that? They didn't want this Republican governor to have a chance to peel off the votes needed to enact a tax plan.

Guinn has made veiled threats about a possible shutdown of government. Without a tax plan in place by the end of the month, this would be a distinct possibility. The chaos that would ensure might seem onerous to most of us, but I'm guessing it might even appeal to the hardcore anti-taxers. They hate government to begin with, so why would they be threatened by a shutdown? If the governor is looking for a shutdown showdown, I'm guessing there are several lawmakers willing to call his bluff.

If the GOP assemblymen wanted to prove they have relevance, they've done it. They've demonstrated they need to be part of the process and can't be dismissed anymore. Now it's time for them to demonstrate they are more than pandering, ideological showboaters.

Other Capitol notes

The myth that the all-powerful gaming industry pulls the strings up here has been punctured for all time. Gaming lobbyists are among the most knowledgeable people here, but when crunch time came during the tax debate, lawmakers basically ignored them. Nevada Resort Association poobah Bill Bible strolled the corridors of the Legislature, bent ears and twisted arms, but failed to change a single vote when it counted most. ... Assemblyman Mark Manendo, the target of sexual harrassment complaints earlier this session, isn't likely to be back. If he hasn't been told yet, he soon will be. The Assembly Democratic Caucus will not support Manendo the next time around. If he does manage to get himself re-elected, he will no longer have a committee chairmanship. Basically, he's toast.

Correction: Knappster messed up last week. The Pioneer Saloon, which is holding its 90th anniversary party June 21-22, is in Goodsprings.