Freshman lawmakers have much to learn

Erin Neff

Monday, Dec. 23, 2002 | 11:05 a.m.

When the Legislature convenes in February, 17 new legislators will be facing not just a learning curve in state politics, but a steep education in Nevada tax policy.

Already the 16 Assembly freshmen and one Senate newcomer are undergoing training and spending most of their spare time trying to grapple with a reported $800 million deficit that has even the governor and veteran lawmakers struggling to find solutions.

"The issues are complex in both their descriptions and solutions," said incoming Assemblyman Josh Griffin, R-Henderson. "It's just one big learning process."

A former lobbyist, Griffin has an edge over some of the newcomers because he is familiar with both the process and personalities in Carson City. But the majority of incoming legislators are quite green.

"Am I ready? It depends on how you define ready," said William Horne, a Democrat elected to an Assembly seat from Las Vegas. "Any freshman that goes up is going to have a whole new experience and is going to have to look to leadership a lot."

While much of the procedural issues are taught by the Legislative Counsel Bureau, the politics of a 120-day session are largely learn-as-you-go.

In 2001 the freshman class included only three Assembly members. All three say the session was like a track meet from the moment they were sworn in until the adjournment four months later.

"It was really tough in the first few weeks just finding time to try to read the bills," Assemblyman David Brown, R-Henderson, said of his freshman session in 2001.

Lorne Malkiewich, who heads the counsel bureau, said the 2001 session was actually an anomaly with only three newcomers, and that those freshmen actually got more personalized attention when they set foot in the capital city.

"We've had freshman classes of 17, 14, 21," Malkiewich said. "There are good things and bad things with so many freshmen. The class is large and hard to manage, but there are benefits to new ideas."

Any freshman has a learning curve, legislators say, but some newcomers, like Griffin, have institutional knowledge to help guide them.

On the Senate side, freshman Warren Hardy, R-Henderson, is a former lobbyist and former assemblyman. Three Republican Assembly members, Dennis Nolan and Barbara Cegavske of Las Vegas and Sandra Tiffany of Henderson, are moving over to the Senate.

The more noticeable effect will be felt in the Assembly, as four Northern Nevada freshmen join 12 new Southern Nevada faces.

"It's a learning situation for those coming from the South, especially," Malkiewich said. "Not only are they freshmen, but they're dealing with living in Carson City and commuting."

There are simple things like learning the state-issued laptop computer and meeting your secretary. And there are more complex things like how a bill receives the death knell known as DNR -- do not revive.

Each caucus teaches its freshmen more about the latter and grooms certain first-year legislators for future leadership roles.

Assemblyman John Oceguera, D-North Las Vegas, was a freshman in 2001 and has been tapped as assistant majority leader and vice chairman of Judiciary for the 2003 session.

"He's a bright young lawmaker who's ready to step up to the challenge," Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, said.

Griffin was tapped by Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, for similar reasons.

"He knows the ropes and he's a good consensus builder," Hettrick said.

But Griffin is also brand new and is placing his priorities in the 19-member GOP Assembly caucus.

"Right now the most important thing is that we are all receiving the same information," Griffin said. "We won't really know how everything plays out until the session starts."

The Legislative Counsel Bureau began formal training shortly after the election.

On Nov. 13 and 14, the bureau had meet-and-greet sessions both in Las Vegas and in Carson City for Northern and Southern freshmen. All 17 attended and got their laptops and pictures taken for the legislative handbook and website.

"They are really all anxious to serve," Malkiewich said.

On Dec. 3 all freshmen went for training in Carson City, learning about the legislative building's security measures, meeting staff members and finding out how they will be paid for the 120 days of work.

The bureau's legal and research divisions accepted bill draft requests from the freshmen and the clerk explained everything from office phones to how to take part in the sergeant at arms' daily lunch.

On Jan. 20, when all lawmakers will be in Carson City for Gov. Kenny Guinn's State of the State address, the freshmen will take Civics 101.

"They'll learn how a bill becomes a law," Malkiewich said.

The freshmen will also get a crash course in lobbyists and media relations.

The real hands-on training begins Jan. 29, when freshmen will attend mock committee meetings and work sessions and learn floor session protocol and parliamentary procedure.

They also will get briefings on ethics, policy and tours. Sessions are also available for spouses of the lawmakers to introduce them to the political world.

That part of the training lasts three days and concludes immediately before the session begins.

"That way it's fresh in their minds," Malkiewich said. "We expect freshmen to come in and be full-fledged legislators from the start."

Horne, a recent law school graduate who clerks at a law firm, knows he has some work to do.

"I'm trying to get my feet underneath me because of the complexity of the issues," Horne said. "Taxes are not my forte, so I've been trying to educate myself on the various proposals."

Horne hasn't read the 1,100-page report by the Nevada Task Force on Tax Policy yet, but he's already met some lobbyists.

"I've gleaned what they're saying, but I know the chamber of commerce is also coming with a plan, and if you read only one, you tend to start to lean one way," Horne said. "I'm going to wait until I see the other information."