Buckley’s seniors project enjoying momentum boost

Erin Neff

Monday, Feb. 12, 2001 | 11:15 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- When U.S. Sen. Harry Reid addressed the state Legislature Friday morning, he mentioned only one of the sitting lawmakers by name and claimed he didn't even see Gov. Kenny Guinn until after his remarks.

But by highlighting Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley's proposed assisted living facility for senior citizens, Reid, the Nevada Democrat and assistant minority leader of the Senate, did more than just draw attention to "some among us who need assistance in their golden years but can't afford it."

He put Buckley's $6 million project -- left out of Guinn's proposed budget -- back into the hands of legislators with the encouragement, "Together we can do this."

Reid's office has been working with the Bureau of Land Management to help Buckley, D-Las Vegas, find land for her facility.

"We will provide the land," Reid said during a press conference following his speech. "We will provide as much as anybody else."

Although the federal government will not be chipping in cash, both Reid and Buckley said they are confident Guinn will help find the funds elsewhere in the proposed budget.

"I feel very confident about gathering support for this project," Buckley said. "I talked with the governor, and he said he'd work with me to try to find some funds in the budget for it."

Buckley and Guinn met on Tuesday to discuss her request that he reconsider the facility.

Guinn has already found $22.8 million in his budget for Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins' pet project, the Nevada State College at Henderson. Some thought Guinn was "quieting" the most powerful Democrat before the 120-day session even began.

As the second-ranking Democrat in the Assembly, Buckley also seems to be able to get her projects into the governor's mind.

Buckley's bill draft will request the funding for an assisted living facility designed to allow senior citizens with certain physical or mental problems to live outside a nursing home.

The first phase of the project, expected to be built in Las Vegas, will be for seniors who need the services of doctors or therapists but do not require intense care.

Ultimately the project will include nursing home facilities and room for residents' spouses.

"This type of idea should receive bipartisan support," Buckley said.

Even though she admits this session won't be the easiest one to find extra money, she said she's confident long-term care and independent living for seniors are top state priorities.

In addition to working with Reid's office to help find BLM land, Buckley has also met with private companies that have expressed support for the center. Buckley envisions a public-private partnership to help defray some of the costs, and says her requested allocation may end up being less than the $6 million in her bill draft.