GOP’s Raggio retained as Senate majority leader

Friday, Nov. 5, 2004 | 9:52 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno, elected to his ninth term Tuesday, has been chosen by his fellow Republicans to be majority leader in the 2005 Legislature.

The Republicans, who hold a 12-9 majority in the Senate, caucused in Raggio's Reno law office at what members said was a peaceful session. There had been talk before the last session of Raggio's possible ouster. Raggio, who has been majority leader continuously since 1993, was unanimously elected. He was also majority leader in 1987 and 1989 when Republicans controlled the Senate.

"Everything was congenial," said Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks. There were no fights or disagreements, he said.

The caucus selected Sen. Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, as assistant majority leader and Mark Amodei of Carson City as president pro tem. Amodei will preside over the Senate when Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt is absent.

Sen. Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson, said that Amodei will also be the presiding officer over the potential impeachment trial of Controller Kathy Augustine. Tiffany said the caucus was informed the Senate will go into a committee of the whole to hear the testimony and make a decision.

Tiffany was chosen as assistant majority whip and Dean Rhoads of Tuscarora as majority whip.

"There was not one stitch of controversy," said Tiffany who has been at odds with Raggio in the past. "Everything was done before. He had everything scripted."

She said she was disappointed that the committee assignments were not made at the meeting. "My life is still suspended."

Raggio said committee assignments will be made later. Washington said he wants to move up to chairman of the Senate Human Resources & Facilities Committee to succeed Ray Rawson who was defeated in the primary election.

Nolan, who was vice chairman of the Transportation Committee, said he would like to be chairman of the committee, succeeding Ray Shaffer of North Las Vegas who was defeated in the election.

"I think that's my best fit," said Nolan. He said homeland security issues would be handled by the transportation committee and that will get a lot of attention this coming session. He said he serves both on the Homeland Security Commission and the Emergency Response Commission.

Sen. Warren Hardy, R-Las Vegas, may be ticketed for the chairmanship of Senate Government Affairs Committee succeeding Ann O'Connell who was defeated in the primary election. But no final decision has been made on that.

Raggio said the GOP would lose on seat on the Senate Finance Committee because the Democrats picked up another member in the election. That will mean there will be four Republicans instead of five on the seven-member committee.

There were reports earlier that there may be a move by some senators from Southern Nevada to require Raggio to either step down as majority leader or as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. But that move has failed to materialize so far.

Nolan said "In contrast to the past, the caucus came together. This is so refreshing that everyone is one the same page." He said the caucus was advised not to do or say anything that could get them excluded from the Augustine trial.

Nolan said the caucus discussed what some of the major issues will be in the 2005 session. These included a cap on property taxes, improved mental health programs in Southern Nevada, water and health insurance relief for small businessmen.

Newly elected Republicans in the Senate are former Assemblyman Bob Beers and Dr. Joe Heck, both from the Las Vegas Valley.

The selection of Raggio means the leadership in the 2005 Legislature will be the same so far as in 2003.

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, was again selected to lead the House in 2005 with Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas to continue as majority leader.

Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, was selected to continue serving as minority leader in the Senate.

Republican Assembly members caucus today in Reno and minority leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, said he will seek re-election.