Political notebook: Carson City’s Knecht joins Assembly naysayers

Erin Neff

Friday, April 25, 2003 | 9:33 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- During the legislative 2001 session, you didn't have to look at the Assembly tote board on 40-2 votes to see who was dissenting.

This year, however, perpetual dissenters Sharron Angle, R-Reno, and Don Gustavson, R-Sun Valley, have a new friend in Carson City Republican Ron Knecht.

All three voted in a dissenting block on a few minor items this week, and all spoke Monday at a small rally by Americans for Tax Reform, which might be more aptly named Americans for No New Taxes.

Early in the session Knecht gained notoriety for submitting a bill draft to give Nevada the new name of East California. He told about 20 tax foes he wanted to propose capping the state's budget. He also talked about his renaming proposal.

"Some people who are humor-challenged didn't get it," Knecht said. "We don't want to be East California. We don't want Gray Davis to become the patron saint of Nevada and we don't want 'The Taxman' to be the state song."

Angle said she continues to remain true to her no new taxes pledge. Gustavson said he also hopes "if it's possible not to raise any taxes, we will."

In the upper house, a similar power trio (sometimes derisively called the sorority sisters) of Ann O'Connell, Barbara Cegavske and Sandra Tiffany, are also forming a little naysayers' group.

But O'Connell, R-Las Vegas, broke with Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, and Tiffany, R-Henderson, when she voted for a bill Monday that would allow the state Board of Regents to waive tuition for active members of the Nevada National Guard.

On that vote, Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, took O'Connell's place in the Trio of No.

Taxes-no, travel-yes

While Gustavson, Tiffany and Cegavske are known for not wanting new taxes, the three of them and one of the Assembly's biggest gross receipts tax foes clearly can spend money.

A Legislative Commission report released this week shows Gustavson and Cegavske each charged the state more than $1,000 for their legislative-related travel in the interim before the 2003 session.

Cegavske attended the American Legislative Exchange Council Winter Conference in Washington, D.C., from Dec. 11 to 14. Cost to taxpayers: $1,195. She reported on her travel claim form that "unintended consequences of excise tax increases was very enlightening."

Gustavson attended the Council of State Governments conference in Richmond, Va., Dec. 5-9. Cost to taxpayers: $1,912. He reports he learned about "how to do more with less."

Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick attended the Council of State Government's meetings in Richmond and in Colorado Springs, Colo., from Dec. 5 to Dec. 14, but listed no cost to the state. He did report that he served on the council's finance committees, "which voted not to increase dues this year and to continue using the same census data."

Tiffany didn't report any benefits from the American Legislative Exchange Council conference she attended with Cegavske in Washington, listing only the meetings she attended and noting no cost to the state. She did say she would recommend that other lawmakers attend similar conferences.

Manendo's mess

Yet another legislative session has come with behind-the-scenes complaints about Assemblyman Mark Manendo harassing women. The chairman of the Government Affairs Committee and Las Vegas Democrat was dragged to Assembly leaders' offices recently for what is being called a final reprimand before he loses his chairmanship, and possibly his seat.

A young legislative intern recently complained to her Assembly boss that Manendo kept staring at her and making untoward statements, despite her previous rejection of offers to date him.

Manendo's alleged actions, which most recently occurred at an April 17 birthday party for another lobbyist, were also witnessed by a number of other people who work in the Legislative Building.

After the party and a subsequent complaint from the intern, her legislative boss went to Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, who immediately stepped in and gave Manendo what she said is his last warning.

The intern has not formally filed a sexual harassment complaint against Manendo, preferring to have it handled more quietly.

Manendo said he did not feel as though any of his actions were inappropriate.

"If there was anything I said or did considered inappropriate, I apologize," Manendo said.

Personal successes

Pierce, who underwent chemotherapy as part of breast cancer treatment prior to the session's start, bravely tossed her wigs this week and showed off the small growth of brown hair.

Immunity challenge

Senate Bill 94 aims to address Southern Nevada's problem with inebriates clogging the emergency rooms by allowing them to be treated at other facilities. But it also contains an amendment providing immunity from liability for the facilities that would provide the treatment.

Included in the immunity is Weststar, the Las Vegas drug and alcohol treatment center where Cegavske works. Cegavske is vice chairwoman of the Senate Human Resources and Facilities Committee, which introduced the bill and the amendment.

During a joint subcommittee hearing of budget panels recently, Cegavkse questioned whether a particular state program for similar treatment could be privatized.