Senate bill would require approval on Guinn’s appointments

Jennifer Coleman

Thursday, Feb. 18, 1999 | 9:08 a.m.

CARSON CITY - Surprise, surprise: Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn, seeking more clout for the executive branch, opposes a bill that would limit his appointment power.

But SB160, reviewed Wednesday by the Senate Government Affairs Committee, is backed by 18 of the 21 members of the upper house. It would give the Senate final say on top gubernatorial appointments.

"I'm sure it will come as no surprise that the governor's office is opposed to this bill," said Denise Miller, Guinn's policy chief. She added the plan is impractical and unfair to applicants for top posts.

But Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, co-sponsor of SB160, disagreed, saying, "The list of states where this is done suggests this is not impractical."

The bill's chief sponsor, Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, said Nevada is one of only five states without some kind of appointment confirmation.

Legislative approval of gubernatorial appointments "is one of the most important tools in this system of checks and balances," he added.

Rhoads got a similar measure through the Senate four years ago but couldn't get it approved in the Democrat-controlled Assembly. Bob Miller, a Democrat, was governor at the time. Guinn is a Republican.

"I've been a proponent of this idea for a long time," Raggio said. "My position doesn't change because the party affiliation of the governor changes."

Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, took Guinn's side, saying, "The governor needs to have the power to appoint people loyal to him and his policies."

The measure would affect top jobs in the departments of business and industry, natural resources, human resources, DMV and public safety, prisons and taxation. The Senate would also have the final say on members of the state Gaming Control Board, parole commissioners, PUC commissioners and the chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission.

If a position became open when the Legislature wasn't in session, SB160 would allow the governor to appoint his choice in an interim capacity, subject to the Senate's approval in the next session.