Columnist Jon Ralston: Santa Guinn’s gifts may not be enough

Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001 | 9:30 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 through e-mail at ralston@vegas.com

CARSON CITY -- Listen to the huzzahs for Gov. Kenny Guinn's State of the State speech:

"I'm glad to see he's listening to us," rhapsodized one high-ranking lawmaker.

Chimed in another pivotal legislator: "Having these health care programs included in the budget ensures their success."

One member of the Gang of 63 went so far as to offer that he was "ecstatic" about Guinn's budget laid out in his 36-minute address.

This gushing triple geyser sprayed not from the mouths of Republicans, who were their usual fawning selves over the GOP governor, but the three Democratic legislative leaders -- Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley and Speaker Richard Perkins, respectively. 'Tis the season to be bipartisan?

Guinn wasn't wearing the requisite garb Monday night, but that man speaking in the Assembly chambers was none other than Santa Claus. He came bearing gifts for his fellow Republicans -- no new taxes, a streamlined state government. He had baubles of all manner for the Democrats -- $22.8 million for Perkins' Henderson State College dream, $86 million for child welfare programs Buckley loves and many other multimillion-dollar trinkets from cervical and breast cancer insurance mandates to Medicaid enhancements to expansion of the governor's prescription drug program. And Santa Guinn also rewarded himself with a present -- a political manifesto for his re-election. How often would you say someone loses an election who preaches fiscal restraint and doesn't raise taxes while boosting state spending by 20 percent and producing an array of targeted special interes t hand-outs?

We knew it before, but it can be said even more clearly now: Unless the lights go out or power rates continue to precipitously rise, Guinn cannot lose his re-election bid in 2002. I don't care if it's Mayor Oscar Goodman, who would be greeted outside Clark County with more hostility than Jan Jones ever was, or any other Democratic sacrificial lamb. The Anointed One, with a little help from his friends, is anointed anew after Monday's speech.

Oh, there were a few lumps of coal in the State of the State, and the Democrats will turn from Whos to Grinches by session's end. But in raw political terms, the Democrats can only grit their teeth behind their smiles after that performance.

The major disappointment in the speech -- I will spend little time reiterating that Guinn's oratorical skills will never draw comparisons to William Jennings Bryan -- was that it contained more myopia than vision.

Guinn, by doing a one-shot here and a one-shot there, did address some pressing social and educational needs. But emblematic of his short-term approach was the gimmickry of the 5 percent bonus to teachers and his sneering at their business profits initiative -- instead of taking on the overall issue of education funding, which is important to him but one that he is, for political reasons, reluctant to pursue despite his 1999 promises.

Guinn addressed the long-term needs of the state budget but only briefly: "During this past year, I have made no secret of my belief that Nevada must explore new revenue streams and establish a broad economic base, so that we can provide a good education to our children, adequate health care to our families and seniors, and safety for all our citizens." But what new revenue streams? And how to establish a broad economic base? The governor was mum, having had a metaphorical gag placed on him by those close to him who are petrified of a phantom candidate in 2002.

As for the happy Democrats, Titus and Buckley will pick away at Guinn over his education schemes, including his plan for class-size reduction flexibility. And both are persuaded that their activism on power deregulation forced the governor to slow down and the ambitious duo, and perhaps Perkins, too, see the issue as one that could topple a governor or at least elevate careers.

The time between a governor's State of the State and the Legislature's commencement usually is reserved for bipartisan hosannas and sweet talk. But that false front usually melts away within the Legislature's first few weeks. Guinn may find by June that the Democrats have grown up and no longer believe in Santa Claus.