Proposed bill includes extra pay, recognition for soldiers
Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004 | 9:29 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, wants taxpayers to financially help the National Guardsmen and reservists called to active duty after 9/11.
Coffin has asked for a bill to be drafted for the 2005 Legislature to provide cash awards to "replace some of the income they lost" when they left their civilian jobs.
In addition, Coffin wants to issue a medal to these servicemen and women who left home and employment. Assemblyman Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, also has asked for a bill to require the state to purchase additional service credit in the state's retirement system for state workers who were called to active duty.
The bills were included in the latest list of bills requested through Oct. 8. So far 728 bills and resolutions have been requested to be drafted for the upcoming regular session.
In Coffin's case, he wants to reward guardsmen and reservists for the number of months each has been on duty and also wants to tie the cash award to whether the guardsman or reservist was in a danger zone.
He is looking at providing $250-$400 a month extra to those who served in high-risk area such as Iraq or Afghanistan. Those who were not in the danger zones would get about half of that per month.
April Conway, a first lieutenant and spokeswoman for the Nevada National Guard, said guardsmen and reservists served about 20,000 months of active duty during the past two of the fiscal years that run from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.
Some were deployed to Southwest Asia and other danger zones but others were dispatched to such places as Florida, Germany and New Zealand.
Some of the air guardsmen were sent to Asia for duty for 60 days and then returned to the states. And later they were sent back to Asia.
Conway said it was difficult to count the actual number of guardsmen who were called to active duty because of the rotations.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, and Assemblywoman Genie Ohrenschall, D-Las Vegas, have both asked for bills to strengthen the law requiring registration and community notification of convicted sex offenders to try to ensure the public is protected from sex offenders.
Sen. Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson, has again requested a bill to break up the Clark County School District into smaller districts. She said she is working with professors at UNLV to devise the plan that is not yet final.
She circulated an initiative petition in 2000 to force the issue to a vote of the public. But that fell several signatures short of qualifying for the ballot. And she has introduced bills in the Senate to divide the school district but they have failed to gain approval.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- CityCenter unveils Crystals high-end retail district
- Sarah Palin wasn’t a disaster, but Obama is
- CityCenter’s Mandarin Oriental makes Vegas debut
- Kimbo Slice not enjoying cutting weight for first time
- AG says any Station Casinos trustee must be licensed by regulators
- As national jobless rate improves, LV sees signs of trouble
- Kruger may soon seek more disciplined shot selection
- Pacquiao-Mayweather fight on, March date likely
- Jim Gibbons vs. Harry Reid: Health care plan ignites dispute
- Del Sol seeks upset against powerhouse Bishop Gorman
Blogs
Elsewhere
Rampage Jackson to return to UFC (1 Comment)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Superintendents want state to immediately seek Race to Top funds
Top Chef: Las Vegas
The great Jennifer debate (1 Comment)
The Kats Report
From Eva Longoria Parker to a cluster of execs, crowd takes a shine to Crystals (2 Comments)
Elsewhere
Harry Reid's recipe for getting health-care deal done (9 Comments)
UNLV in at No. 11 in SI's college hoops power rankings (3 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
Top Chef Episode 13: A few good chefs
Calendar »
- 5 Sat
- 6 Sun
- 7 Mon
- 8 Tue
- 9 Wed
-
Chickenfoot at The Joint
The Joint | 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale at the Pearl
The Pearl at the Palms | 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
Great Santa Run at Town Square
Town Square | 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
-
Willie Nelson at Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts
Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino | 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Cash'd Out at Aliante Station
Aliante Station Casino and Hotel | 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Brooks & Dunn at the Hilton
Las Vegas Hilton
-
Ron White performs at the Mirage
Terry Fator Theatre
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati












