Political notebook: GOP to make housecall for doctors

Erin Neff

Friday, April 18, 2003 | 9:07 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Neither doctors nor lawyers emerged satisfied when Senate Bill 97, designed to address the medical malpractice crisis, was gutted in committee last week.

But now a move is quietly afoot among Senate Republicans to salvage their pro-doctor reputation and force Assembly Democrats to make the docs unhappy.

A high-ranking Republican source reports SB97 will be amended again Monday on the Senate floor to return the language contained in the Keep Our Doctors in Nevada petition.

Doctors want a $250,000 cap on so-called pain and suffering damages that can be awarded in jury cases.

The problem for the politically savvy GOP is that it doesn't currently appear to have the votes needed to pass the amendment. Senate Republicans haven't locked up all of their caucus members' support for the amendment.

And if Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, pulls her caucus together to protect her Democratic colleagues in the lower house, the Republicans won't be able to afford too many of their own jumping ship.

The Senate is controlled 13-8 by the Republicans while the Assembly is controlled 23-19 by the attorney-friendly Democrats, who don't like caps on jury awards.

Party building

Democrats still have a ways to go to rebuild their party after last November's election debacle.

One olive branch was visible Tuesday night, when Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nevada, spoke to the Legislature. Behind her at the speaker's podium was not Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson.

Instead Speaker Pro Tem Wendell Williams, D-North Las Vegas, took the gavel honors. Williams, you may recall, supported Republican Las Vegas City Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald in her bid for Berkley's seat last year.

The gesture was one thing. But the party still needs some rebuilding.

When Berkley began her speech, just 28 people -- a third of whom intern, work or have worked for Perkins -- were in the public gallery.

The only Assembly member missing, Ron Knecht, R-Carson City, told this reporter earlier in the week that he would not be attending the speeches of either Berkley or Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., because he was teaching a class at the time. "It's nothing partisan," he said.

That's not what he told the Assembly leadership. He said his absence from Berkley's speech was "for cause."

Porter support

In comparison, more than 100 people filled the gallery for the speech Wednesday night of Berkley's Republican colleague, Porter.

While Berkley went unscripted for 30 minutes, Porter came with 96 pages of prepared text and spoke for the same amount of time. His speech was long on political cliches championing the state's resilience, but offered no specific suggestions as to how Nevada should solve its many problems.

To whit on taxes: "At the end of the day you are going to come together and do the right thing."

What's the right thing? Porter later said: "The process is important and they'll get to the right answer."

In his speech he also gave special thanks to Mike Pieper of the governor's Washington, D.C., office. No mention of the Assembly committee's decision last week to wipe out that office to save money.

Speechless?

Porter's speech to the Legislature on Wednesday marked the sixth lawmakers have heard this session.

Perkins might make it the last of an era.

The Assembly speaker will convene a group to study whether the speeches should continue in light of the Legislature's 120-day limit and concerns that Nevada's two senators should be the only ones permitted to address the body.

This year lawmakers have heard from all five members of the state's congressional delegation and from the Nevada Supreme Court's chief justice.

Make his a decaf

Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, would hold meetings of his Commerce and Labor Committee at 5 a.m. if he could.

So he was particularly keyed up for a 7 a.m. Wednesday "discussion of medical insurance issues and occupational and professional board issues."

He grilled Dr. Cheryl Hug-English, president of the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners, over what he called a "Nixonian" decision recently to enter into a lengthy lease for a Northern Nevada office despite calls for the board to move to Las Vegas.

"I gotta quit mainlining espresso before I get here," he said in apology after one particularly testy exchange.

Hairy beast

Assemblyman David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas, declined to offer puns in rising to discuss a shampoo bill that had previously worked lawmakers into a lather.

But in describing why he wouldn't offer any humor, he said -- on the floor of the Assembly -- he did not want to be relegated to political obscurity like Thomas Granger.

Granger is the only man ever executed for bestiality, although you have to venture back to 1642 to find evidence of the crime.

Pass the hat, not taxes

Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno, is not fond of passing any bills that increase taxes, but is hoping to raise some revenue for the state by passing -- a hat.

Anyone wishing to donate to the "Nevada Gift and Donation Fund" to offset the $704 million shortfall can send a check to the office of the state controller.

Angle promoted donations to the already established fund in a recent press release.

The controller's address is 101 N. Carson St., Suite 5, Carson City, NV 89701.

Reid the younger feted

The Paradise Democratic Club of Las Vegas will honor Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid on Monday as Democrat of the Year.

The club didn't have much of a field from which to choose. Reid and Berkley were the only Democrats to win major races last November.

Since Berkley, who was re-elected to Congress, is a past Democrat of the Year honoree, Reid, the son of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., was the last donkey standing.

The county commissioner is past chairman of the Nevada State Democratic Party. He will be honored at 6 p.m. Monday at a reception at Bally's in Las Vegas. Tickets are $30. For information call John Ponticello at 363-2456.