Lawmakers laud agenda

Erin Neff and Cy Ryan

Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2001 | 11:27 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Legislative leaders -- both Republicans and Democrats -- handed out mostly kudos to Gov. Kenny Guinn on his 33-minute "State of the State" message Monday.

There were few criticisms from Democratic lawmakers, and some members of the more than 350 people in the audience privately suggested Guinn sounded more like a Democrat with his new social programs for the aged, the uninsured and for children.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, called it a "good speech with good balance, and it was significant there were no new taxes." He praised the governor for funding several education programs such as $20 million for more textbooks and technology and additional money to help low-achieving schools get up to par.

Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said she was especially pleased the governor listened to legislative committee recommendations for some of his programs. "Having these health-care programs included in the budget ensures their success," she said.

Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, said, "I'm glad to see he's listening to us."

But Buckley said she was concerned that Guinn was merely paying token attention to some issues. "It's all $5 million here, $5 million there, one-shot funding. And $5 million doesn't go very far," she said. One-shot means it will not recur in the 2003 budget unless specifically authorized.

Buckley was not happy that her proposed demonstration assisted-care center for senior citizens did not get included in the budget. But she vowed to proceed with a legislative bill draft.

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, said he was "estactic" about Guinn's budget, which will start the state college in Henderson. "Obviously the governor has been swayed by the merits of the program," he said. The governor is putting up $16 million for classroom construction; $1 million for startup costs and $5.8 million when students arrive next year.

The three were concerned about continuation of class-size reduction. The governor said he is giving full funding for class-size reduction but suggested that schools such as Elko County have the flexibility to try different approaches. There, the class-size reduction was spread over five grades with a higher amount of students than the mandated 16 pupils to one teacher.

Perkins said, "Las Vegas isn't Elko."

Titus said, "Sometimes when you call something flexible, it means you're rolling back the program."

Raggio, who will have to carry Guinn's budget as head of the Senate Finance Committee, said the governor made several good, important starts, such as the $6 million for cervical breast cancer coverage for women and $5 million to set up a program to help working poor adults afford health-care coverage.

The governor did not lay out any blueprint for deregulation of the electric industry.

"He (Guinn) made the point that we need to develop an energy plan that furthers the goals of deregulation but without the harmful effect in California," Raggio said.

"Their problem down there has been the inability to conserve energy and the failure to generate energy. Those two things have to be addressed here, and he's inviting the Legislature to work with him." The state, Raggio said, needs to encourage generation plants in Nevada.

The majority leader said the pay raises of 4 percent each year for state workers is long overdue. And he liked the $58 million to pay for a 5 percent bonus for teachers. Raggio said teachers still have the ability to negotiate with school districts over salaries, above the one-time bonus.

Raggio said he was not surprised by the multitude of new programs -- that prompted some to suggest that Guinn sounded more like a Democrat.

The governor, Raggio said, created savings with his fundamental review of state government. And there is a big surplus that allows the state to put a lot of this money in "one shot" items.

Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, said the speech carried an "overwhelming positive tone of working with people."

"The focus on education coming from an educator is something we missed for a long time and that will be well received by both houses and both parties," Townsend said.

Townsend, one of the architects of the electric deregulation law now in effect, noted that Guinn allocated $5 million to help low-income people pay their energy bills. The legislator also noted that Guinn is backpedaling on deregulation. "You heard him (Guinn) say it and I think the Legislature is resounding in its support that deregulation is not going to happen now and it may not happen in the foreseeable future."