Little change made in campaign finances

Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2002 | 9:28 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A nonprofit coalition that tracks political contributions says it has made little progress in changing laws to limit big money's influence in the Nevada Legislature.

The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada on Monday issued its biennial report on donations to Nevada lawmakers.

Things haven't changed much in the past four years, according to the alliance.

"It's very disappointing on campaign finance reform, not just here in Nevada but around the country," said Paul Brown, Southern Nevada director of the alliance.

He said the "Enron debacle" has sparked new interest in contributions to legislators.

"People are seeing the correlation between huge campaign contributions and special deals, and common people get hurt," Brown said.

The alliance -- composed of groups representing labor, racial minorities, gays, the disabled and environmentalists -- maintains that those who contribute the most prevail in the Legislature.

The gaming industry donated $885,228 to the legislators' campaigns, and Brown believes it carries the most clout in the Legislature.

He said the industry received money to pave roads in California to alleviate traffic congestion for people driving to Las Vegas.

"They got a great return on their investment," Brown said.

Business and industry donated $841,918, followed by utilities, mining and waste management, $751,192 and construction, $609,811.

The largest individual contributors were the two teachers' unions -- the Nevada State Education Association and Clark County Education Association. The state group chipped in $297,469, and the Clark County organization donated $233,500.

But the teachers, who were also the biggest contributors in 1996 and 1998, didn't prevail in the 2001 Legislature in their quest for a pay raise.

Brown said, "They bet on the wrong horse in the governor's race" referring to the 1998 election when Republican Kenny Guinn was elected governor. "They didn't get what they wanted because it wasn't in his budget."

In contrast, the union of state workers -- the State of Nevada Employees Association -- contributed just $44,150 to legislators and received 4 percent pay raises each year of the biennium.

The alliance is pushing public financing of campaigns, but Brown said it scaled back that recommendation this year in light of the economic downturn after Sept. 11. That measure would cost an estimated $8 million.

Still, the alliance recommends that the Legislature set aside $265,000 to finance candidate debates over public television stations so that additional points of view can be presented to the public. It also wants to outlaw contributions given after the election and boost the $7,800 given legislators every two years to entice more candidates into the race.