Assemblyman rips plan to fly lawmakers to Guinn speech

Monday, Dec. 21, 1998 | 11:15 a.m.

A North Las Vegas assemblyman is taking exception to the decision by legislative leaders to fly all the lawmakers to Carson City to be present for Gov. Kenny Guinn's "State of the State" message Jan. 18.

"It's a waste of money," says Assemblyman Tom Collins, a Democrat.

The Legislative Commission Friday authorized legislators to be put on salary and be given travel pay and per diem to come to Carson City for one day. The commission's six senators and six assemblymen take care of state business in between legislative sessions.

In the past, the governor gave his speech two or three days after the Legislature opened. But things have been changed this time, as voters approved a 120-day limit for the Legislature, which opens Feb. 1.

Guinn, under the new rules, must submit his budget Jan. 18 to the Legislature's two budget committees, which start their meetings the following day. And the "State of the State" message is tied to the budget.

So Guinn is going to give his address early because most of the programs will be disclosed with the release of the budget.

Assembly Speaker Joe Dini, D-Yerington, said, "It's very important to bring the legislators in to show respect for the new governor."

But Collins suggested the speech be televised via the legislative system from Carson City to the Sawyer State Office Building in Las Vegas, where Southern Nevada lawmakers could attend. Or, he said, a legislator could stay home and watch it on television. The speech has been televised on public or commercial stations in past years.

"I've seen Guinn on television for the past six months," said Collins, who won his third term in November.

It is expected to cost an extra $10,000 to $12,000 to bring 42 lawmakers to Carson City. Twenty-one of the 63 lawmakers will be in Carson City anyway as they are members of the Senate Finance Committee or the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, which start their meetings Jan. 19.