Raggio, Perkins say they paid for Cox-sponsored cruise

Friday, Aug. 5, 2005 | 9:57 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Two leaders of the Nevada Legislature enjoyed a cruise in the Baltic Sea sponsored by Cox Communications of Las Vegas but both lawmakers said they paid their own way.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno and Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, both said they paid in excess of $4,000 for the cruise in addition to their airfare to London where the Crystal Symphony ship departed.

"It was no freebie," said Perkins who is running for the Democratic nomination for governor. "I paid full freight."

Both lawmakers were accompanied by their wives.

Crystal Cruises lists a 10-day cruise next year of the Mediterranean and northern Europe starting at $3,140 per person. A spokeswoman for Crystal Cruises said she could discount the rate for two persons.

Perkins said it was a "great opportunity" to visit with "Nevada business folks."

Raggio said he specifically asked what the fare was so he could pay the full bill.

A spokesman for Perkins said that the speaker was invited by Steve Schorr, an executive with Cox Communications, the company that operates the cable television system in Las Vegas.

Schorr, vice president for public and government affairs for Cox, said Thursday both lawmakers paid their own ways. "It was no comp," he said. "Both said they would not go on the trip if they did not pay."

He said the lawmakers paid the full amount.

About 150 people, many of them clients of Cox Communication, took the 12-day trip. Cox paid the way for the clients but the others paid their own fares, which he said was about $4,000.

Schorr said both Perkins and Raggio paid the company that put together the tour and not Cox Communications.

Perkins said he and his wife were not berthed in the "top of the line cabin." He complained that with his 6-foot 5-inch height, he could barely turn around in the cabin they had.

He said he made three payments but didn't remember the exact amount but the total bill was in excess of $4,000.

Perkins said he did not have the canceled checks. He said they were made out months ago and he threw them away. He just returned this week from a cruise.

"When it is a crime to go on vacation with your wife without it being a news story?" Perkins questioned.

Erik Herzik, a professor for the political science department of the University of Nevada-Reno, said "That's the dilemna politicians face." Although the two legislators paid for their own tickets, he said "their motives are still questioned."

Herzik also said there's an old saying, "Don't let the perfect drive out the good." He said business doesn't get done if political figures are always looking over their shoulders.

"Let the chips fall where they may," said Herzik. "You cannot please everybody."

He said he doubted there would be any question if lawmakers took a bus tour of rural Nevada with the Progressive Leadership Alliance Group of Nevada that paid for the gas. The alliance is a group that helps minorities, poor and laborers.

Perkins said no other legislators were aboard the ship.

Cox Communications backed a bill in the 2005 Legislature to eliminate city and county fees in the future on franchises, such as the franchise agreement cable companies operate under. The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee introduced Senate Bill 277 on April 8 and it died in the committee on April 14. Raggio noted he was not a member of that committee.

Cox Communication was also interested in Assembly Bill 151 that would have imposed a tax on its direct television competitors. That was introduced by 22 Assembly members including Perkins. But the bill never made it out of the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee.

Schorr said he has known the two lawmakers for a long time and he is friends with them outside the session. "It was great for the lawmakers to see other parts of the world," he said.

There was "no political motivation" behind the invitation, said Schorr, adding that there were no discussions during the cruise about Cox or other Nevada political issues.

In Copenhagen, Raggio and Perkins spent a lot of time talking to the people and about the economy. Schorr said the two lawmakers found out that residents of Denmark pay 80 percent in taxes but the government provides many services.

"It was an eye-opener for them," said Schorr. At St. Petersburg, Russia, the two lawmakers talked to a lot of people and "got an incredible insight" into the way things work in that country, he said.