State politicians fear consequences

Erin Neff

Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002 | 10:05 a.m.

Nevada lawmakers happily accepted campaign contributions from Enron a year ago, but are now hoping they don't get burned by the company's meltdown.

Everyone from Gov. Kenny Guinn to the young lobbyist who did little more than hand out the checks is now trying to distance himself from the scandal.

Guinn, who received $5,000 from Enron last January, said he isn't even sure how he got the contribution.

"If they can tell us whom to send the money to, I'll be happy to give mine back," Guinn said.

The $5,000 donation is a paltry part of Guinn's $1.8 million war chest, but he said he "would rather have the people who are having trouble with their 401(k)s, and have lost their retirement, have it."

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, received $500 from the Houston-based company last year when lobbyists representing Enron were trying to get legislators to approve the sale of an Enron power plant related to Northern Nevada's power company, Sierra Power.

"At the time we all believed them to be a very credible company," Perkins said.

After learning the state's Public Employees Retirement Service lost $22 million in Enron investments, Perkins added: "I'd be happy to give the $500 I got from Enron to PERS."

State Assemblywoman Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson, was apparently so spooked by the Enron money on her state Senate campaign report that she footnoted it.

Next to the $500 donation from Enron, she wrote: "Donated to Nevada veterans' organizations."

It was the only footnoted contribution on her report.

Lobbyist Josh Griffin, who is now running for state Assembly District 29, perhaps has the most to lose by his one-time task in Carson City to hand out the checks from Enron.

As a lobbyist for the McMullen Strategic Group, Griffin said he spent 90 percent of his time working on Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce issues. But since the firm also represented Enron in the power plant issue, he's the one who handed out the checks to the Las Vegas lawmakers.

"I did a little bit around the time of the power plant deal, but it waned as the session went on," Griffin said. "Really I spent most of my time on chamber issues."

Nevada politicians aren't alone in their fear of the bankrupt corporate giant.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is donating $100,000 in Enron soft money to charities set up to help former Enron employees. The Republican Party is trying to learn how to return an estimated $280,000 in donations.