Guinn mulls special session

Benjamin Grove and Erin Neff

Thursday, March 21, 2002 | 11:05 a.m.

Gov. Kenny Guinn is considering calling the Legislature into a special session to approve more money for the high-stakes battle against the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump.

Guinn told the Sun this morning that he supports the idea of calling a special session to earmark another $10 million in state funds for the Yucca Mountain fight.

Guinn said he and Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and John Ensign, R-Nev., have all discussed a special session as the costs of the fight against Yucca Mountain escalate.

The governor said he has instructed aides to look into the legalities of dipping into the state's $136 million emergency fund.

"I've got my staff looking at the existing law on the rainy day fund," Guinn said. "I want to work with the senators 1,000 percent. I'm trying to help get as much money as I can."

State leaders say they need the money to pay a growing army of publicists, lawyers and lobbyists, along with other anti-Yucca projects.

"This is a do-or-die fight for the state of Nevada," Ensign said today.

Guinn is expected to veto President Bush's decision to put a high-level nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, next month. His veto would then go to Congress, where an intense lobbying effort is being planned by both the state and the nuclear industry.

The state's $6 million Nevada Protection Fund, set up to fight the dump, is quickly being accounted for. The fund, which was established by the state and has seen some contributions from corporations and private parties, won't be enough to go against the nuclear industry's $30 million war chest, state officials say.

Guinn's Chief of Staff Marybel Batjer said Nevada's efforts may require another $10 million.

The governor, she said, "intends to fight this to the bloody end." There has not been any formal request for a special session, and Guinn said he will decide on calling a special session next week.

Guinn said he had asked Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, to research whether he has authority at this time to ask lawmakers to dip into state funds for the Yucca Mountain fight.

Guinn is open to the idea if state lawmakers agree, Reid and Ensign said.

The senators talked about a special session on Saturday, and Ensign talked to Guinn on Sunday.

Since then Reid has spoken to Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, about whether lawmakers would support approving more money, at a time when the state is bracing for budget shortfalls. Legislative leaders are gauging support, Reid said.

"Calling a special session is not an easy thing to do," Reid said.

Ensign added, "You don't call a special session unless you know you can do it -- that you have support."

Perkins was unavailable for comment this morning. Guinn said he was going to meet the speaker today.

Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, said she'd be willing to attend a special session if there were a chance the Legislature could take action to help in the Yucca Mountain fight.

However, she cautioned the expense of such a session, coupled with the public's desire for biennial sessions, must also be considered.

"I don't think you should rush to do that," Titus said. "It's expensive, and we don't want to get into annual sessions. But in an emergency, that's why we have the provision for a special session."

The issue comes at a difficult time for the state, as Batjer reiterated the governor is "scouring" the budget for every nickel because tax revenues are not living up to expectations. She also noted there are higher than expected costs in welfare and Medicaid since the economy slump after Sept. 11.

Titus said the state's emergency fund is one possible source of revenue to help in lobbying efforts.

"There's money but it's in the same place Kenny Guinn took funds for the medical malpractice insurance," Titus said. "If they can show us this is really needed, we could find money."

Guinn is already trying to figure out where the money would come from, Ensign said.

"Whatever he gives us will help," Ensign said.

This morning several state lawmakers questioned whether there was money to help fight Yucca Mountain.

Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said before any special session is convened she wants proof that there's money to be found.

"Many of us would like to do what we can to fight Yucca Mountain, we just don't know if the money is there," said Buckley, who noted she hadn't heard any discussion of calling a special session.

Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, said he is not inclined to back a special session because he does not think there is any money to help the fight.

"We're obviously in a much different situation than the federal government," he said. "We have to have a balanced budget. They could spend any dollars we throw at them. Is that the top priority for our money? I'm not sure."

Assemblyman Bernie Anderson, D-Sparks, who is chairman of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, said, "You're looking at $60,000 just to get us in the door. I don't see any additional monies."

State Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, said he wouldn't attend a special session on Yucca Mountain.

"I think it would be a waste of time. The money could be better spent trying to get some books for the schools.

"This thing is on the fast track. Even the majority leader of the (U.S.) Senate has said he can't stop it. This thing is coming. What are we going to do? Sue the Congress."

Reid and Ensign said additional money is needed as they prepare for a crucial showdown over Yucca Mountain in Congress in a few months.

Once Guinn files the objection, both the House and Senate will have 90 days to override it.

Reid and Ensign today declined to say how much money is needed in the fight or exactly how it would be used.

State leaders have an anti-Yucca team that already includes high-profile lobbyists Democrat John Podesta and Republican Ken Duberstein in Washington, plus Egan & Associates, a Washington law firm. The state has hired Brown & Partners Advertising and Public Relations to develop national strategies.

Duberstein and Podesta are formulating an estimate for the Legislature so lawmakers would have a better idea about how much they were being asked to approve, Reid said.

Podesta and Duberstein are being paid with money donated by the gaming industry. They are being paid roughly $300,000 each for six months.

The Legislature last year approved $4 million for Nevada's dump fight, supplemented by $1 million approved by Clark County. Casino industry associations have pledged an additional $750,000; Molasky Companies donated $50,000 and the Nevada Association of Realtors pledged $20,000 this week.

Sun reporters Cy Ryan and Jeff German contributed to this story.