Democrats meet with state’s business leaders

Tuesday, March 6, 2001 | 9:41 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Feeling a bit left out, Democratic leaders in the Legislature have arranged a private meeting for today with representatives of the state's larger businesses to discuss the state's priorities and possible taxes.

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, said he has heard rumors that business leaders have met with Gov. Kenny Guinn about tax revenues.

If deals are being made, Perkins said, "We need to know about it."

Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, concurred.

"Everybody needs to be involved," Titus said. "Let's sit down and not have back-door meetings."

Today's session was triggered by a Nevada Supreme Court decision to toss out a business initiative brought by the Nevada State Education Association. There have been reports about business lobbyists discussing whether to offer a compromise proposal accompanied by lower tax rates.

Perkins called today's meeting a brainstorming session to determine "where we are at and where we are headed."

He said representatives of the governor and the teachers union have not been invited. He said legislators are not going into the meeting planning to propose new taxes, and he added there would be future such meetings.

Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said mixed signals are emanating from the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce regarding the tax issue. She said one representative tells one legislator something, then somebody else offers a different story.

One issue of interest is the restructuring of government by allowing larger counties to supply part of the cost of education, Buckley said. The counties do not now provide financial support to the schools. Buckley said nobody wants to change the reputation of Nevada as a state with some of the lowest tax rates in the nation.

Requiring the counties to contribute to education could prove devastating to some of the rural counties, Buckley said.