Questions raised about lawmakers move

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Most lawmakers defend the practice. But one legislator is calling it a conflict of interest because the Legislature addresses laws affecting Clark County, which is footing the bill, and firefighters, who provide the service.

County managers offered Southern Nevada legislators free space in a Ryder truck rented to move county lobbyists' files and office equipment to the state Capitol. County officials say use of the truck and the workers' labor is a courtesy that isn't costing taxpayers extra money.

Terry Murphy, county administrative services director, said the help is provided because "we just want to get along."

The county has provided free moving services for the past six legislative sessions. Clark County officials expect to present lawmakers with 22 bill draft requests this year.

The lawmakers who took advantage of the offer are: Democratic Sens. Dina Titus, Bob Coffin and Jack Regan; Republican Sens. Ann O'Connell, Kathy Augustine and Randolph Townsend; Republican Assemblywoman Sandra Tiffany and Democratic Assemblymen Bob Price and Tom Collins.

All but Townsend represent Clark County districts. Townsend represents a Reno district but has a Las Vegas home.

Those interviewed defended the practice, saying it actually saves tax dollars by keeping them from billing the state for shipping costs.

"They've been really nice about it. It's a great savings," said Tiffany, who had several boxes shipped free by the county. "We don't exactly get compensated very much for being citizen legislators."

Augustine said the favor won't affect her votes on county proposals because she's "an independent thinker."

"There's no conflict of interest. Besides, it's not even a county truck," she said of the vehicle rented by the county that moved 37 boxes from her Las Vegas home to her legislative office 435 miles away.

Coffin had fire department workers move two large office chairs he estimated would have cost $200 to ship. He agrees with Augustine that using the service poses no conflict.

Sen. Joe Neal, who wasn't offered the free moving service, said he wouldn't have accepted it anyway.

"It's absolutely a conflict of interest. The county lobbies us. We set laws for them on so many issues," he said. "Thank you, but I'll carry my stuff to Carson City myself."

Murphy said the courtesy began in the mid-1980s, when firefighter John Pappageorge served as the county's lobbyist and offered his colleagues' services to help move lawmakers' belongings to the capitol.

The "tradition has continued," she said.

This year the county set aside for legislators any room in the 24-foot rental truck not taken up by items belonging to the county's five-member lobbying team. County officials rented a bigger truck for that purpose, Murphy said, noting "the cost between a small truck and a big truck isn't all that great."

Murphy justified the practice, saying: "What the Legislature does is of importance countywide."

The three firemen are being paid their fire department salaries for the work, plus any overtime they incur. Their lodging, food and airfare back to Las Vegas will be drawn from the county's legislative budget - money set aside for lobbying and legislative travel.