Republicans, Democrats to do about-face on key legislative issues

Monday, Jan. 10, 2000 | 9:06 a.m.

In a partisan about-face, Republicans say they'll stress education and Democrats say they'll run on fiscal responsibility in this year's legislative races.

With polls showing that most voters think Democrats do better with education and Republicans are more fiscally responsible, party leaders are trying to reverse those perceptions.

They also say three initiatives will force candidates to take stands on the controversial issues of gay marriages, a gambling tax hike and an income tax on non-gambling businesses.

Leaders say another major issue could be the long lines of angry customers that surfaced at Department of Motor Vehicles offices after bugs in its new computer system last year.

Assembly Majority Leader Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, is urging fellow Democrats to seize credit for the healthy state economy and to run as the party of fiscal responsibility.

Before Republican Gov. Kenny Guinn took office last year, he said, Democrats presided over at least one house of the Legislature and held the governor's office for 16 years during the biggest economic boom in state history.

"So fiscal responsibility is a good issue for us, even though that's traditionally been a Republican issue," he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Perkins also is urging Assembly Democrats to stress education in campaigns.

"In general, education issues are still strong for us," he said. "Democrats are associated more with education than Republicans are, because we are continually trying to boost K through 12, we are the ones who put together class-size reduction, and I think those issues appeal to the masses."

But Republicans said they'll go after voters by claiming that Democratic solutions haven't worked. They'll tout their support of vouchers and charter schools.

"The issues obviously are going to be not much different than they have been, dealing with growth and continuing the process of improving education, and we lead the way on those areas," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno.

Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, said he has never liked the state's class-size reduction program.

"It's been tested three times by the state Board of Education and there's been no improvement, at a cost of $83 million a year," he said.

Leaders say the question of who is to blame for the long lines at DMV offices also may emerge as a major issue.

"The Democrats in the Assembly wouldn't agree to more funding for (new positions at) DMV, and that's why we had a crisis, and that would be a legitimate issue," Raggio said.

But Assembly Speaker Joe Dini, D-Yerington, said his colleagues thought the DMV should fill 70 job vacancies before asking for more positions.

Political consultant Billy Vassiliadis of R&R Partners predicted there would be no change in the Legislature's control after the November general election.

Democrats enjoy a 28-14 lead in the Assembly and Republicans have a 12-9 advantage in the Senate.