National crisis may prompt new state laws

Erin Neff

Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2001 | 9:54 a.m.

Congress acted swiftly to fund recovery efforts, stabilize the airline industry and authorize military and security measures after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

And although the Nevada Legislature isn't scheduled to convene again until February 2003, lawmakers believe the events of the past month also will lead to new laws and a greater spirit of bipartisanship.

Current events routinely spark legislation, such as anti-violence measures targeting schools in the wake of the Columbine High School tragedy or laws to help the sagging power industry in light of the California energy crisis.

"The best approach from a legislative view is one of caution," warned Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas. "It's a good time for all elected officials to work together."

The 2001 Legislature will likely go down in history as one involving the most partisan displays of politics, which led to the redistricting failures that forced Gov. Kenny Guinn to call a special session of the 63-member body.

But as unity has gripped a mourning nation, so too will it seep into the state's politics, lawmakers say.

"I'm confident that any vote that expresses support for our commander-in-chief will be unanimous," said Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas. "This thing has highlighted issues that everybody agrees on."

Guinn spokesman Greg Bortolin said it is still too soon to determine whether the terrorist attacks, economic downtown and the U.S.-led attacks on Afghanistan will lead to any longterm changes in state policy.

"It's really too early to say what will happen," Bortolin said.

In a statewide address Sept. 27, Guinn outlined some short-term measures aimed at stabilizing the state's economy after tourists shied away from Vegas vacations. This led hotels to lay off thousands of workers.

Those measures included a statewide hiring freeze, suspension of nonessential travel and the delay of construction projects and new equipment for state agencies.

State Sen. Ann O'Connell, R-Las Vegas, said she hopes the economic problems would force Nevada lawmakers to take a serious look at diversifying the state's tax base.

"I think it's going to have a profound effect on the way we look at our tax structure," O'Connell said.

Even if the laid-off hotel employees return to work after just a month off the job, O'Connell said most will be woefully behind in house, car and insurance payments. And the hotels will never be able to recoup the losses from the short-lived lack of tourists.

"You never catch up," O'Connell said. "That's just the reality of the economics."

Buckley said that although it is too early to tell whether the economic downturn will have a lasting impact, she can envision legislation in the 2003 session aimed at assisting laid-off workers.

"Depending on how quickly we rebound (economically), there may be some efforts to allocate emergency funds to assist people with COBRA (temporary health insurance) payments," Buckley said.

State Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, was in Spain when the terrorist attacks occurred, giving her both an interesting perspective on the historic event and a longing for home.

Titus said she thinks that if anything beneficial will come out of the massive loss of lives, it will be in legislative changes that ultimately help residents.

"The main problem we're seeing is the trouble people have applying for unemployment over the phone," Titus said. "We may come up with another way. And with more people unemployed, it just emphasizes the lack of health insurance statewide."

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, said the attacks led him to focus on the state's emergency capabilities and possible legislation to keep "those operations strong."

Perkins, a deputy police chief in Henderson, also said it is likely the 2003 session will bring some legislative attempts similar to what U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft has proposed to aid law enforcement in identifying and catching suspected terrorists.

"We may need some additional legal resources," Perkins said.

Perkins also agrees with O'Connell that the interim committees will focus efforts on the state's economic problems.