Guinn opposes bill on appointee confirmation

Thursday, Feb. 18, 1999 | 11:56 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn sent word to the Legislature Wednesday he opposes a bill that would require Senate confirmation of his key appointees, something that occurs in most other states.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, one of Guinn's biggest allies, split with the governor on the issue, saying the Legislature should have oversight.

But Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, who usually leads the opposition to Guinn, sided with the governor on the issue.

Nevada governors have traditionally balked at this plan, which has been introduced several times in the Legislature but always fallen short.

The bill would require Senate confirmation of the directors of the departments of business and industry, conservation and natural resources, human resources, motor vehicles and public safety, prisons, taxation, members of the gaming control board, board of parole commissioners, the public utilities commission and the chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission.

If the Legislature was not in session, appointees would serve in their positions until lawmakers reconvene. If the Senate rejected one, the appointee would be out of the job immediately and could not be appointed to any other designated position until the following Legislature met.

The Senate Government Affairs Committee is expected to vote on the bill Friday. Only five states, including Nevada, do not have some form of confirmation process by the Legislature, Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, who sponsored Senate Bill 160, said.

"It's an important tool of checks and balances," he said. "This will let the public know the backgrounds" of the appointees and "put more sunshine in our system." He complained governors have never followed a law that requires them to submit the names of all appointments made between sessions of the Legislature.

But confirmation is "impractical and unfair to the appointees," Denice Miller, Guinn's senior policy adviser, told the committee. She said it would be difficult to find qualified people who would be willing to go through the process.

Supporters pointed to the federal government, where the Senate confirms appointments of the president. But Miller told the committee the federal government "is not a model for the state."

In Utah, Rhoads said, the Legislature convenes once a month to go over the appointments and take care other business.