Guinn headed for Washington

Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005 | 9:40 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn flies today to Washington to attend the inauguration ceremonies for President Bush and intends to meet with other governors about Medicaid.

He plans to return to Nevada either late Thursday night or Friday "depending on the weather."

He is scheduled to get together with 11 other governors, both Democrat and Republican, to talk about the potential federal cuts in Medicaid, the federal-state program that provides medical care for the poor.

Outside education, Medicaid is the costliest program in state government. The 2003 Legislature allocated $630.4 million in state funds to match federal money to take care of about 200,000 people in a two-year period.

The Republican Governors Association, of which Guinn is chairman, holds a reception Wednesday evening.

Guinn and other governors will be bussed Thursday to the Capitol to attend the inauguration. The governors go to the lawn of the White House where they will be able to view the parade. Later that night the inaugural balls are held, after which Guinn said he may catch a late plane to return to Nevada.

If not, he plans to get an early flight Friday morning. He said he wants to return to Nevada to put the final touches on his State of the State message to be delivered Monday to the Nevada Legislature.