Friday, April 4, 2003 | 9:47 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- Sen. Sandra Tiffany insists her fishing expedition into the state motor pool is important and that those who suggest she has ulterior motives in casting the privatization line are just floating a red herring.
Last week the state's budget director told lawmakers that it makes no sense to outsource the 800-vehicle fleet from which state agencies rent vehicles for employees to travel on state business.
In fact, doing so would cost $1.4 million a year more than keeping the service under the state's umbrella, based on the five bids analyzed by the budget office.
But Tiffany, R-Henderson, didn't trust the numbers and, as chairwoman of a joint subcommittee examining the issue, she declared the issue wasn't closed.
So why is she still pushing it?
Some believe her longstanding relationship with car dealer Jim Marsh, her ex-boyfriend, has something to do with it. After all, she has pushed twice in public hearings this session for the state to purchase the old Marsh building and lot on Eastern Avenue in Las Vegas to relocate the fleet, which will soon be kicked off airport property.
"I just don't have confidence that the answers from staff were right," Tiffany said. "It's really no big deal. I'm just not ready to close that issue yet."
Oh, Don(na)
Freshman Assemblyman Jason Geddes commemorated his upset of entrenched Democrat Vivian Freeman for the District 24 seat in Reno by etching "24" into his left arm at a tattoo parlor.
Geddes said the blue campaign logo tattoo was in response to a wager with wife Cindie over his chances in last fall's elections. But while the 35-year-old biochemist and promising new Republican has covered the bet on the homefront, the location of his home in the future might be in question.
Many Democrats genuinely like Geddes, but they like his district -- and the seat they lost -- even more.
While Geddes got the tattoo to signify "achieving a lifelong dream," he may eventually be struggling with an indelible nightmare, like the chap in the commercial who runs out of money in a tattoo parlor before the artist can make a woman's name out of the "Don" on his arm.
Democrats are quietly hoping Geddes will move to District 26 next year. He could challenge Sharron Angle, R-Reno, for her seat or, if Angle runs for Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio's seat should he retire, he could have a clear ride.
And just like men who return solemnly to tattoo artists after a break-up to cover up a gal's name, Geddes may be looking at some way to turn a 4 into a 6.
No bull on taxes
Assemblyman Tom Collins, D-North Las Vegas, likes to brag about the weekends he spends back at the homestead working with the animals.
While rancher Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, did spend last weekend branding animals and getting a sunburn in the process, Collins, during roll call one morning, was proud to announce to reporters seated behind him: "I castrated a baby boy calf."
Collins didn't stop there, expounding in graphic detail about the procedure, and mentioning a similar process he'd like to see his "anti-tax friends in the Republican Party" undergo.
The roots of licensing
Salon-goers are certainly dyeing to learn about Assembly Bill 258, which licenses shampoo assistants.
The Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee attempted last week to lighten the roots of licensing -- the hearing got so silly that Chris Giunchigliani broke into song, "I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair." A new stylist might be shaping up an amendment.
The bill requires shampoo assistants to get licensing as cosmetologists, something committee Chairman David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas, thought could have been covered with three directives from a bottle: "Wash, rinse, repeat."
Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, grumbled, "I always have trouble with these hair bills," and suggested unsuccessfully that the committee amend the bill to exempt shampoo assistants from licensure.
Joining her in opposition were the follicle-challenged Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, as well as David Brown, R-Henderson, and Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson.
Bolstered by the votes of the powerful Dems, some Republicans are now hoping to split hairs on the floor by offering an amendment that would foil the permanent licensure. Since a license requires a fee, the bill would need two-thirds to pass.
archive
