Lawmakers rush to push bills through houses

Erin Neff

Monday, April 30, 2001 | 10:38 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Lawmakers on Friday scrambled to pass bills out of their originating houses to meet self-imposed deadlines. By law, the Legislature must adjourn June 4.

Some programs -- such as senior prescription drug benefits and renewable energy portfolios -- made the cut. But others, including a county salary hike and a potential raise for teachers, hit snags.

The winners:

Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, won bipartisan support for Assembly Bill 545 -- it would provide greater prescription drug assistance to low-income seniors.

The unanimous vote to pass the bill was somewhat surprising, given the recent acrimony between the Democrats and Gov. Kenny Guinn, who proposes funding a different senior drug program.

Buckley's bill would allow about 8,500 seniors to take advantage of government subsidies.

"It's a small step, but a needed step for our seniors," Buckley said.

Minority Floor Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, said he would support Buckley's measure despite a belief that the governor's proposal would ultimately garner more support.

"I think it's unfortunate that we were unable to work this in a more bipartisan manner," Hettrick said.

In the Senate, Senate Bill 539 would provide a 100 percent subsidy for 70 percent of the people who sign up for the program. Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, estimated the program would attract up to 6,000 seniors who make less than $21,000 annually.

Guinn's bill would cover 100 percent of prescription drug costs for elderly seniors who earn less than $14,800; those earning slightly more would receive less coverage.

The other truly partisan fight played out Friday in the Assembly with the passage of Assembly Bill 418, which requires that an increased percentage of the state's power come from renewable energy sources by 2013.

Republicans objected to the measure because they thought it is unwise to burden consumers with potential rate hikes because green energy -- solar and wind, for example -- is often more expensive than fossil fuels.

"It is going to raise prices for those on fixed incomes," Hettrick said, who urged colleagues to strike down the bill.

But the measure passed 26-14, with two abstentions. Three Democrats and two Republicans crossed party lines during the vote. Jerry Claborn, D-Las Vegas, Tom Collins, D-North Las Vegas, and John Lee, D-Las Vegas, voted against the measure. Dawn Gibbons and David Humke, both R-Reno, voted for it.

Marcia de Braga, D-Fallon, sponsored the measure and again found herself defending her right to vote on it. De Braga leases land to a geothermal company; she receives royalties from the renewable energy company.

"I've talked to legal staff numerous times, and they assure me I have no conflict," de Braga said following a recess after the vote.

She made no disclosure of her ties to a geothermal company prior to the vote. John Carpenter, R-Elko, abstained from voting because he owns land he thinks might have good geothermal potential.

"It's better to be safe," Carpenter said.

County governments were the biggest losers Friday, when the Assembly failed to vote on Assembly Bill 256 -- the measure that would have raised the salaries of Clark County commissioners 39 percent.

By leaving the bill on the clerk's desk the Assembly sent a clear message to local governments -- raise your own salaries.

Several lawmakers said they had no problem with the raises for most counties, but they were shocked at the huge increase proposed for Clark and substantial raises proposed for elected officials in Washoe County.

Raises for teachers are also more in doubt now that the Assembly amended a controversial tax-shift bill. The vote exempts the measure from deadline pressures yet sends it toward an uncertain fate in the Ways and Means Committee.

Assembly Bill 457, sponsored by Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, and David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas, would shift the motor vehicle privilege tax, which currently is given to local governments, to the state. The tax would fund 2 percent raises for teachers in each of the next two years.

The last-minute amendment, proposed by Goldwater and Democratic leaders, tacks a $1 million appropriation onto the measure to be sent to the state's distributive school account.

Entities in Clark County would lose $65 million in revenue if the measure takes effect.