Reapportionment faces long battle

Erin Neff

Monday, May 21, 2001 | 11:17 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The biggest political battle of the decade will wind down this week behind closed doors in the state's Legislative Building.

Although Assembly Democrats pushed a reapportionment plan through their house on Friday, even they admit the games have only begun.

"This is a fair and constitutional and solid plan," Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, said in urging her colleagues to support Assembly Bill 665.

But Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, saw that plan to reapportion the state's congressional, Assembly and Senate districts as something very different.

"It's a great place to begin negotiating from," said Hettrick, who led all Republican Assembly representatives to vote against the bill.

Today Senate Republicans are expected to wrap up a reapportionment plan that includes expansion of the state Legislature from 63 to 69 seats -- adding four districts to the Assembly and two to the Senate -- in an effort to help northern and rural Nevada retain its current level of representation.

Two Democrats joined the GOP opposition to AB665 on Friday, claiming the plan that keeps the size of the Legislature at 63 seats will erode the value of rural seats.

"I have to argue for the loss of rural seats that would occur in keeping the same number of seats," Marcia de Braga, D-Fallon, said.

Bonnie Parnell, D-Carson City, also voted against the bill, which passed 25-17.

But the dissension in the ranks isn't limited to Democrats. Republicans are also waging an internal battle over the size of the Legislature. Many, including Gov. Kenny Guinn, favor increasing the size, while others worry the cost doesn't justify appeasing northern interests.

On Wednesday the Senate Government Affairs Committee will hold its first public hearing on the Senate Republican reapportionment plan. Meanwhile leaders of both houses will meet in private to try to craft a compromise between the Assembly bill and whatever Senate Republicans unveil this week.

Before the session, lawmakers agreed to wrap up reapportionment by May 25 in an effort to keep redistricting politics away from the other policy issues remaining in the final two weeks of the session.

But the self-imposed deadline this Friday now looms ominously for both parties as dissenters continue to argue in caucus meetings and publicly for other options.

"In the long run we'll negotiate this thing into something more workable," said Assemblyman Joe Dini, D-Yerington, who disagrees with his leadership's plan but has voted for it as a show of party faith.

As talks progress this week, Guinn is expected to take his most hands-on approach of the session. Both Democrats and Republicans will try to craft a compromise that can withstand the governor's veto.