Report: Voters rubber-stamped special-interests’ candidates

Monday, Jan. 28, 2002 | 11:04 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Organized labor contributed more money than any other group to political candidates in 2000, says a new study by the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada.

The report, released today, said, "In Nevada democracy has been replaced by plutocracy with legislators controlled by a rich class of organizations and corporations."

Alliance Director Bob Fulkerson said, "On election day, voters did little more than rubberstamp the choices made by the rich special interests."

Excluding political parties, organized labor contributed $985,288 to candidates in 2000, with the gaming industry in second place at $885,228, followed by business and retail at $841,918.

Nevada's teachers' unions were by far the biggest individual donors. The Nevada State Education Association chipped in $297,469 followed by the Clark County Education Association at $233,500.

In third place was Mandalay Bay Group at $134,750, followed by the Southern Nevada Homebuilders Association at $118,500 and Republic Silver State Disposal at $113,000.

While the teachers' unions gave the most money, they were unable to convince the Nevada Legislature to enact a major tax increase for big increases in salary for teachers.

Paul Brown, Southern Nevada director of the alliance, said, "Our system of special interest campaign financing is not working in the public interest. Special interests expect and get sweetheart deals and tax breaks for their campaign contributions."

The progressive alliance is composed of racial minority groups, labor, gay organizations, environmentalists and social welfare groups. The alliance backs public financing of elections as a long term goal.

Fulkerson said the report shows "Cash is king in Nevada politics."

Only two legislative candidates, Sen. Joe Neal, D-Las Vegas, and Assemblywoman Kathy McClain, D-Las Vegas, spent less than their opponents and still won.

Incumbents raised $5.7 million, but challengers collected only $1.4 million.

Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, was the top money-raiser bringing in $390,941. Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, collected $230,832 and then sent some of the money to other Democratic candidates.

Brown said lawmakers are paid $7,800 per session. He said the amount of campaign contributions raised in one year's election cycle -- $7.6 million -- would pay the biennial salaries for the 63 legislators for 15 sessions, covering 31 years.

The report said out-of-state contributors gave candidates $1.1 million or 14.6 percent of the total contributions.

The alliance said a short term goal is for the state to allocate $5,000 per Assembly and Senate races to fund candidate debates to be aired on public television. This would cost $265,000 per election and more candidate voices would be heard.

It wants to outlaw post-election contributions. For instance, it said Reliant Energy gave all its money after Election Day. The organization also wants to boost the pay of legislators so more people can afford to serve.

Fulkerson said, "Currently we have a dearth of serious new candidates."