Legislative briefs for June 2, 2003

Monday, June 2, 2003 | 10:04 a.m.

Guinn remarks bother lawmakers

Some state senators are irked at Gov. Kenny Guinn for suggesting that they have wasted time during this session and must now rush to pass a budget and tax plan.

"Everybody has worked diligently and arduously," Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said.

Sen. Terry Care, D-Las Vegas, also took exception to Guinn's statements, which appeared in the Reno Gazette-Journal. Care said he has been unable to attend a number of events involving his daughter, including the prom and a swimming competition, because of his work in the Legislature.

Raggio said he hoped Guinn's remarks were taken out of context.

The governor was quoted as saying many lawmakers wasted their time and could have developed a budget and a tax package before the final days of the session, which is scheduled to end tonight.

Greg Bortolin, press secretary to Guinn, downplayed the tiff.

"All the governor was trying to say is he expects people to do their business in the allotted 120 days," Bortolin said. "The governor wants to see it happen and be done with it."

Firefighters win cancer coverage

Gov. Kenny Guinn has signed Assembly Bill 451, a bill that specifies that certain cancers are occupational diseases for firefighters.

AB451 was sought by North Las Vegas firefighter Bill Harnedy, who contracted a rare form of kidney cancer. His insurance claims for workers' compensation were rejected, with insurers citing current state law as the reason.

The bill takes effect Oct. 1.