GOP governors meet in Las Vegas to talk about their policies

Kiley Russell

Friday, July 16, 1999 | 9:30 a.m.

Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn met with three other Republican governors Thursday to talk about common policy priorities and to formulate national political strategies.

The meeting was part of a one-day conference sponsored by the Republican Governors Association. It was intended to give the governors a chance to talk amongst themselves and with local business leaders about GOP policies on the state and national levels.

"We have 31 Republican governors and we represent all the big states with the exception of California," Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore said, exalting the Republican governors' political clout.

"As a result we have the ability to help set the national agenda. As we're doing that, we're talking about taxes and education and other strong Republican issues," he added.

The event at the MGM Grand hotel-casino was also attended by Arizona Gov. Jane Hull and Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, the RGA chairman.

"We come out on a regional basis to listen to those who pay our salaries, to listen to the business community to learn from them how best to make our states prosperous," Keating said.

All four governors emphasized their dedication to tax reductions, education reforms and the transfer of authority from the federal to the state level.

"In Arizona we've had eight years - next year will be the ninth - of tax cuts. We've learned that you can cut taxes, return some money to the people and you can still provide for the basic services," Hull said.

Other issues raised during the closed panel discussions with local business leaders included health care for seniors and disaster relief, according to Jack Finn, a Guinn spokesman.

"I just had my first experience with an emergency situation with flooding in this state. I can see how devastating it is for the people affected," Guinn said to reporters before the conference started.

"At the same time I can get on the phone and Frank Keating will say to me 'Anytime you want, our staff will help you.' You can learn a great deal from people who've gone through that process," Guinn said, referring to last week's flooding in Las Vegas that killed two people and caused at least $20.5 million in damage.

The conference was just one in a series of 14 meetings held around the country by the RGA annually. In addition to political discussions, the events are intended to generate donations to the organization.

RGA officials expected the Las Vegas event to earn about $250,000. The money will be used to sponsor other political forums, as donations to political candidates or for a variety of other political purposes, RGA spokeswoman Kirsten Fedewa said.