Assembly agrees not to challenge governor’s veto

Wednesday, April 7, 1999 | 12:16 p.m.

After brief and peeved comments by Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, the lower house voted 41-0 Tuesday against overriding Guinn's veto last week of AB105.

The bill, unanimously approved earlier this session by both houses, would have assessed $50 fees on real estate agents who took state-required tests in time-share sales.

Guinn, in a veto message read to the Legislature, contended the fee increases violated a pledge he made not to increase any taxes.

"I promised the people of Nevada that this state, under my administration, would live within its means and that I would present a balanced budget that includes no new taxes," Guinn said.

Buckley complained her Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee's processing of the bill had been a costly waste of time. She pointed out that it was the Guinn administration that sought the bill.

"If the administration thought the bill was a bad idea, the administration should not have sought approval of the bill," said Buckley.

She added that Real Estate Division Administrator Joan Buchanan had testified that there was a dire need for tests to be given to time-share agents in Las Vegas, Reno and Elko.

Since the Assembly failed to override the veto, the bill was not even referred to the Senate. It would have taken a two-thirds majority in both houses to override the governor's veto.

Guinn said in the veto message that the bill had been a mistake.

"Because this bill was introduced by an executive branch agency, I bear responsibility for its content, making it even more critical that this bill not become law," he said.