Assembly OKs amendment to Senate ethics bill

Kirsten Searer

Friday, May 27, 2005 | 9:34 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, revived his efforts to increase ethics standards Thursday by amending the provisions into an unrelated Senate bill.

The Assembly approved an amendment to Senate Bill 386 that would:

Some Assembly members expressed concern Thursday that challengers would get an advantage over incumbents if incumbent candidates have more restrictions on when they can raise money.

But Democrats argue that incumbents have the natural advantage, and that they shouldn't be voting on issues while collecting checks.

Perkins said the ethics reform measures were prompted by the impeachment of state Controller Kathy Augustine, though the original bills died in the Senate Legislative Operations and Elections Committee.

He said he left out one measure as a nod to the committee's concerns that would have blocked public officials from using state employees for campaign work.

Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, said it would be difficult for legislators to prevent their staff members from doing work that might be considered campaigning. Her employees, for example, talk to constituents every day, she said.

The Senate now must decide whether to concur with the amendment. The bill was originally designed to amend laws relating to registering voters and counting computer ballots.