Political notebook: Husband, wife show patriotism in different ways

Erin Neff

Friday, March 21, 2003 | 9:17 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Not everyone is waving the red, white and blue in the state capital, even when they are among the most patriotic.

Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons, R-Reno, handed out Vote For Jim, er, patriotic cards compliments of her husband, Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., as the U.S. deadline with Saddam Hussein drew near.

Gibbons handed out a red, white and blue cause ribbon with a pin in the middle of both the U.S. and Nevada flags on a card asking the recipient to e-mail support to military troops.

Now if Gibbons were just as patriotic as her husband, who this week won accolades for stopping all fund-raising in light of the war.

Instead, she sponsored Assembly Bill 400, which would trample the public's right to know information about elected or public officials faster than you can say U.S. Patriot Act.

AB400 would keep secret all assessor's records and motor vehicle records of any public person in the state.

It must be easier to trample the public's right to know with a little wave of the red, white and blue.

Extra credit

Assemblyman Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, is getting some revenge for his budgetary position via e-mail.

The medium that once highlighted Beers' diatribe against service workers is now vindicating some of his theories about education.

Beers got an e-mail from a high school student in Clark County, replete with spelling and grammar errors, in which the girl described her concern about Beers and other Republicans cutting education money.

Beers wrote back, correcting the mistakes. The girl responded, telling Beers: "If you wish to look down on me because I did not look over my grammar, then be my guest, but for your information I only wrote to you for extra credit in a class ..."

Some Republicans point to the extra credit as bribery and say educators are trying to manipulate a pro-tax marketing campaign.

Care-less spelling

Sen. Terry Care, D-Las Vegas, got top colloquial billing on his tax proposal with Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City.

Although Amodei is first alphabetically, everyone in the Legislative Building calls the proposal the Care-Amodei bill.

So you'd think Care would toss Amodei a little more respect than to misspell his co-sponsor's name repeatedly in a letter to the editor of the Sun complaining about an editorial.

Amodei (pronounced Am-oh-day) became Amodie, which just might be pronounced the way many hope the bill will do.

Always prepared

Legislators used to rise with fiery rhetoric and off-the-cuff remarks that drove the policy debate in unscripted and dramatic ways.

But few in Carson City feel comfortable without their prepared remarks anymore. Floor statements are read on each bill -- usually written by someone other than the orator -- and remarks are prepared for each hearing.

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, took the preparedness to absurd extremes Wednesday when he testified on behalf of his Assembly Bill 250 -- an anti-terrorism measure.

Perkins told the committee chairman he was about to stray from his prepared remarks for a moment to discuss what Sept. 11, 2001, meant to him.

He then shuffled his papers and began reading a personal account from another prepared remark.

It's no wonder. Perkins, a former Boy Scout eyeing the governor's mansion, is "always prepared."

Name's never the same

Assembly Judiciary Committee Chairman Bernie Anderson is formal to a fault with those testifying before his panel.

The Democrat from Sparks always refers to witnesses with their titles. The only problem: He can't seem to get either the person's job or name correct.

This week, for example, he identified Assistant U.S. Public Defender Michael Pescetta as "Mr. Scheck," apparently with the famed O.J. Simpson attorney on his mind but nowhere in the room.

Anderson also called Nevada Restaurant Association chief Van Hefner, Mr. Higgins; promoted a lieutenant to captain; referred to two women as men; and let the president of the Nevada Eagle Forum drone off topic because the chairman had apparently fallen asleep.

Future leaders?

Assemblyman Chad Christensen rushed home to Las Vegas on Wednesday to greet the arrival of his fourth son.

Christensen's wife, Ashley, gave birth to Collin Race at Summerlin Hospital on Wednesday evening.

Assemblyman William Horne, whose wife, Brenda, is due with the couple's first child next month, was treated to a surprise baby shower Thursday under the guise of a caucus meeting.

One of the gifts was a silver congressional cup from Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons.

For the record

Democratic presidential hopeful Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., will be looking for some money Wednesday at a fund-raiser sponsored by Mandalay Resort Group exec Mike Sloan and hosted by Steve and Elaine Wynn, Wally Barr and Clive Cummis. The $1,000-a-person event is from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Mandalay Bay.com