Tuesday, July 22, 2003 | 11:17 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- Shunned from their caucus and threatened with political opponents at the next election, five Assembly Republicans voted Monday with Democrats to support the largest tax increase in state history.
All five said their decision to vote yes on the tax plan was something they considered to be in the best interest of their constituents, no matter what it means to their political futures.
John Marvel, 78, the ranking Assembly Republican, joined four consistent yes votes on Monday, saying: "I'm just a Nevada citizen who did what I thought was best for Nevada citizens."
After the two houses had adjourned Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, thanked Marvel for putting an end to the overtime sessions. Marvel's vote gave the Assembly a two-thirds majority in favor of the plan.
"It had gone far enough," Marvel said.
Marvel, of Battle Mountain, has served in past sessions as chairman of Ways and Means, and he said, in the end he felt the state had established the need for new taxes.
Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, called his vote: "A very brave thing to do."
After Senate Bill 8 passed the Assembly 28-14, with the five Republicans helping form the two-thirds majority, members immediately crowded Marvel's desk. "Marvel, you're marvelous," Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons, R-Reno, said.
Jason Geddes, Joe Hardy and Josh Griffin, the other Republican yes votes shook his hand and said thanks.
Geddes, a biochemist who teaches at the University of Nevada, Reno, had consistently pledged to vote for taxes at or below $862 million, in part, because he studied the budget and thought the level of funding for social service programs was suitable.
Both he and his wife have previously been on the state's Temporary Assistance to Needy Families -- a background that Geddes said made him more greatly appreciate the program.
"We're back working now and we're productive and paying taxes," Geddes said. "That's why I'm a little more soft on the social services."
Griffin, R-Henderson, and a public relations consultant, said he was satisfied with his vote, and previously said he would guarantee his re-election.
"I think the state is screaming first and foremost to get the job done," Griffin said before the vote. "The bottom line is you can't mess with the schools."
Hardy, R-Boulder City, who is a family physician, said that while he had voted against bills that didn't address taxes the best way, he had given up looking for a "perfect plan."
"I support education and will do whatever I can to support education," Hardy said. Gibbons, the wife of U.S. Rep. Jim Gibbons, who spearheaded the initiative that requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature for new taxes.
She said her constituents will support her.
"I live in the most Republican district and they just say, 'Get it done,' " Gibbons said. "It doesn't hurt me to vote yes because I'm doing the right thing."
As the regular session drew to a close and the original four Republicans began sharing their position on taxes, they were often shunned from tax discussions the 15 others in their caucus were having.
"We kept saying that you're excluding the voice of the four people who understand why the other three caucuses do what they do," Geddes, R-Reno, said.
Griffin joked repeatedly with the original four about their nameless caucus, calling it things like: "The four without a home." After the tax vote, some Democrats were calling them "the fabulous five," although Marvel refused the hero-worshipping.
"This is a decent policy decision and we had a two-thirds vote," Marvel said. "That's it. No one is a hero."
Geddes said he felt the five yes votes do fall in line with his party's beliefs. "I think Republican principles are beyond, 'No new taxes,' " Geddes said.
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