Legislative trip, comment scrutinized

Friday, July 25, 2003 | 11:22 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Five state legislators, four of whom voted against the $836 million tax increase Monday, have signed up to attend the Council of State Governments-WEST conference next week in Hawaii.

At least three of the lawmakers say they are going to pay their own way to try to ward off any criticism. Another said he may pay part of the cost, and the fifth is believed to already be in Honolulu.

Those who have signed up are Republicans Sen. Ray Shaffer of North Las Vegas and Assembly members Sharron Angle of Reno, Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick of Gardnerville, Don Gustavson of Sun Valley and Tom Grady of Carson City.

Shaffer is believed to already be in Hawaii. He was absent in the closing days of the special session of the Legislature and could not be found for the vote on the final tax bill. Legislative officials said he left for Hawaii.

Angle, Gustavson and Grady said Thursday they intend to pay their own way to the convention, which runs from July 29 to Aug. 1.

"I'm going on my own dime," Angle said. "We are getting so much demagoguery from the press, it is not worth it," referring to the controversy in which 15 GOP assemblymen opposed the tax increase.

"If the press was more friendly, I might consider (going on state money)," Angle said. "We don't want to give the appearance of impropriety." Angle said there is a double standard with government workers and teachers getting paid for training, but not the Legislature.

Grady said he will bill the state only for the cost of registration.

"I don't want anyone to have anything to say about this," said Grady. "I would just as soon pick up my own expenses."

Grady is on the Environmental, Agriculture and Water Committee at the conference and these issues are important to his constituents and to rural Nevada, he said.

Gustavson also said he would not spend any state money on the trip "except for registration. I would not feel right about having the state to pay for this at this time."

But, he said, "with the amount of money in new taxes, we have enough to send everybody in the state of Nevada to Hawaii."

Gustavson, who quit his job last December and is looking for another job, said he would use his campaign funds to pay for the trip.

Hettrick pointed out that the annual meeting was at Lake Tahoe last year. He said that as the immediate past president of the organization he was obligated to attend the session because he is on the executive committee. He said he may pay his own airfare to Honolulu but will seek state reimbursement for his hotel room, registration and per diem.

The lawmakers said said it's important for Nevada to have representation at the conference because the organization is behind the drive to get the federal government to pay the states for the public lands and the conference offers an opportunity to be part of a unified effort from the western states.

If the effort is successful, it could bring $100 million in additional federal money to Nevada, Hettrick said.

The minority leader also said this "is continuing education -- just like doctors and lawyers" obtain for their professions.

Political Scientist Fred Lokken of Reno said the fact that three of the lawmakers are paying their own way and Hettrick is picking up part of the tab is "philosophically consistent" with their position in the Legislature. If they had charged the taxpayers, Lokken said that would have been "hypocritical."

Lokken, associate professor of teaching technologies and governmental relations at the Truckee Meadows Community College, the lawmakers paying their own way is showing "incredible respect for the taxpayers" since it will be a major cost.

Lokken, a registered Republican, said these conferences are valuable for lawmaker to "network" with other state legislators.

The Legislative Commission adopted a new policy earlier this year limiting the state reimbursement for travel to out-of-state conventions. In the past, the state paid for travel, lodging, per diem, registration and salary for two out-of-state trips a year. It also gave partial reimbursement of travel, lodging and registration for one trip.

The new policy allows one trip for full reimbursement and one for partial reimbursement.

Lorne Malkiewich, director of the Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau, said the airlines are offering a discount for the lawmakers flying to the conference. He said the headquarters hotel Hilton Hawaiian Village Breach Resort & Spa is offering a discount on the room, setting the price at $122 a night.

The convention events will include entertainment and a sightseeing trip of the downtown area including the state capitol on one night, a sunrise Diamond Head walk and a luau on the closing night of the convention.

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