Lawmakers’ building of war chests on hold temporarily

Erin Neff

Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003 | 11:06 a.m.

In the past six months state lawmakers have squeezed in as much campaign fund-raising as they could because, come Friday, they will be prohibited from that kind of activity for five months.

State law forbids the 63 elected legislators, as well as Gov. Kenny Guinn and Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, from accepting a campaign contribution or soliciting a commitment for a future contribution from 30 days before the legislative session to 30 days after the regular adjournment.

The Legislature convenes Feb. 3, and most lawmakers avoided a last-minute rush during the holidays to pad their war chests.

The Senate Republican Caucus conducted a fund-raiser three weeks ago at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino, raking in $130,000 for the 13 Republicans in the state Senate.

Guinn and Rep. Jim Gibbons hosted the Dec. 16 event attended by developers, contractors and physicians.

Individual Democrats, including Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins of Henderson, also had parties in early December to raise money.

The two weeks that included Christmas and New Year's Day involved no formal fund-raising by either party because too many politicians and the major contributors were out of town, officials said.

And no formal events are scheduled today or Friday to beat the deadline.

Politicians aren't required to report campaign contributions and expenses until Jan. 15, so an exact account of how much money was raised and by whom prior to the session will not be known for several weeks.

But lawmakers should be well aware of Friday's deadline because both the Republican and Democratic caucuses sent reminder letters to their members.

Sometimes last-minute giving shows a clear agenda, as it did last summer, before a special session of the Legislature called in July to deal with the medical malpractice crisis.

Officials allowed contributions within the traditional contribution-ban time period because lawmakers convened during the heart of an election year fund-raising period.

Just before that session, trial attorneys and physicians flooded key state lawmakers with donations, according to campaign finance reports filed at the time.

The Nevada Trial Lawyers Political Action Committee doled out $30,500 to 31 state lawmakers, with individual lawyers chipping in another $31,000. The Nevada Medical PAC gave $21,500.

This period is not as clear-cut. The 2003 Legislature will be dominated by taxes and budget talks, with policy decisions on medical malpractice, utilities and construction defects also filling meeting rooms.

Lawmakers surveyed by the Sun said there has been no concerted giving by any particular interest group leading up to the 2003 session.

"There are a few individuals handing out checks, but it's not like the trial lawyers are saying, 'Here's the money,' " Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, said.

Nevada Trial Lawyers Association President Tim Williams said his group has had no concerted fund-raising efforts, but it and a consumer group have been giving to legislators friendly to consumer issues.