Lawmakers become ‘deadbeat donors’

Larry Henry and Cy Ryan

Friday, May 30, 1997 | 11:44 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The next time the Legislature plays a charity basketball game, one of the teams could be called the Deadbeat Donors.

That's because most of the elected officials who participated in an April 14 benefit game -- on the condition that they donate $1,000 each to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada -- still haven't paid.

Among the most prominent deadbeats is Assemblyman David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas, captain of the Dynamite Dunking Democrats.

Goldwater stands out because he gloated from the Assembly floor after the Democrats won by two points. Six weeks after the game, Goldwater still displays a green and gold trophy on his desk.

Another nonpaying player is Gov. Bob Miller, who has an excuse of sorts -- he's been out of state a lot lately, most recently in Bulgaria.

Of the 18 participants, only four have paid in full, including Secretary of State Dean Heller, captain of the Rebounding Republicans. The others are Assemblymen Pete Ernaut, R-Reno, Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, and Brian Sandoval, R-Reno. Sandoval even pitched in a little extra. He gave $1,200.

This week, Kathy Blankenship of the Boys and Girls Clubs sent a second letter to the participants, asking for the money. She was surprised at the negative response. One Democrat told her she was "tacky" to inquire again, and a Republican flat-out said he's not going to pay.

Most players plan on drumming up their share from special interest groups that can afford to give, but some legislators are hiding behind a state law that prohibits elected officials from soliciting "political" donations during the session. Another statute says they can't ask lobbyists for any contribution or gift valued at more than $100.

That doesn't prevent the players from asking nonlobbyists for a charity donation, nor does it bar them from using leftover campaign money. Assembly Speaker Joe Dini, D-Yerington, was honorary coach of the Democrats and wasn't required to donate anything, but he gave $100.

Those who haven't paid include Assemblymen Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, Morse Arberry, D-Las Vegas, Wendell Williams, D-Las Vegas, John Lee, D-Las Vegas, Tom Collins, D-Las Vegas, and David Humke, R-Reno.

Assemblyman Dario Herrera, D-Las Vegas, gave half of what he owns, and Assemblyman Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, gave $150. Assemblyman Pat Hickey, R-Reno, sent $175.

There is no information on two other players, Assemblymen Jack Close, R-Las Vegas, and Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas.

Should casinos pay?

"Adding a tax on the residents of the community for the purpose of growth ... is like trying to put a fire out with gasoline."

With those words, Sen. Bill O'Donnell, R-Las Vegas, formally unveiled a plan to make casinos, developers and tourists pay for growth.

The alternative is Assembly Bill 291, which allows the County Commission to raise sales taxes a quarter-cent to complete a second water pipe to Las Vegas, allowing the area's 1.2 million population to double in 20 years.

Whether O'Donnell will have success is in doubt. Immediately after he made an appeal to the Senate Taxation Committee Thursday, a casino lobbyist undercut his intent.

Harvey Whittemore of the Nevada Resort Association told reporters that a "blue-ribbon" citizens panel studied taxes and rejected all except a sales tax. Whittemore's implied message is that O'Donnell's idea, which hasn't been introduced as a bill yet, is dead on arrival.

O'Donnell's proposal would:

* Levy a 2-cent tax on jet fuel.

* Use a 6 percent tax already applied to rental cars.

* Raise the tax on real estate transactions by 35 cents of every $500 in value.

* Attach a $250,000 fee on new hotel-casinos.

O'Donnell said these taxes would help slow growth because fewer people would move to Las Vegas if prices are higher.

"This is a better, more palatable bill than having the citizens of Nevada have a quarter-cent sales tax on everything they buy," he said.