Columnist Jon Ralston: Money, conflicts pervade politics

Sunday, May 21, 2000 | 8:45 a.m.

Jon Ralston, who publishes the Ralston Report, writes a column for the Sun on Sundays and Wednesdays. Ralston can be reached at 870-7997 or by e-mail at ralston@vegas.com.

An advance look at two reports, one on gambling money and one on conflicts of interest, and both with Nevada components:

The executive summary of a draft of the report asserts that the Indian contributions "have dramatically altered the political dynamic not only of other gambling segments, but of every industry that hopes to utilize and manipulate the politics of the state." The numbers are astonishing.

In 1995, according to Common Cause, Indians gave $78,117 in campaign contributions while the Nevada gamers gave $71,350. In 1998 the Nevadans had increased their contributions by an amazing amount to reach a total of $2.5 million. But the Indians gave nearly three times that much in the Year of Prop 5, $7.4 million.

In a list of the top 10 gambling contributors during that four-year period, only Hilton, coming in 10th with $523,350, made it from Nevada. Six of the 10 are tribes, one is the Culinary Union and the others are horse and card club interests. Interestingly, the study identifies the Culinary as a "Nevada casino group." Any objections?

The study also shows that while the Nevada casino companies didn't have much involvement until recently, they spent a lot of money on lobbying California lawmakers, who generally have been very favorable to their arguments. For instance, the Nevada companies, which include Mandalay Resort Group ($1.8 million during the four years) and Mirage Resorts ($481,000), helped pass a compact, which many of the tribes didn't like, out of the California Legislature. It was only after the Indians learned to go around lawmakers, through the initiative process, that they defeated the gamers.

If only Joe Neal had the Indians' money, imagine what he could do.

Sounds about right. In the section on Nevada, which is ranked 27th by the center for making basic information on legislators and possible conflicts available, several legislators are singled out and they will not be happy.

Foremost is Senate Judiciary Chairman Mark James, a Republican who is described as advocating for bills sought by the casinos while his law firm represented gaming interests. The center also lists other lawyers in the Legislature with gaming clients, including GOP Sens. Mark Amodei and Bill Raggio and Democratic Sen. Terry Care. It also singles out Reno Assemblyman Greg Brower, a Republican, for voting on a controversial bill that affected International Game Technology while his firm represented the slot manufacturer.

Overall the study found that 6 percent of Nevada lawmakers sit on committees that regulate their business interests (national average was more than 20 percent), 10 percent had financial ties to organizations that lobby state government (18 percent nationally) and 20 percent take a paycheck form other government agencies (25 percent nationally).

All in all, not the kind of publicity that the Gang of 63 will tout in their mail pieces this year -- although methinks their opponents might use it.