County picks new lobbyist for UMC

By Joe Schoenmann (contact)

Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Some state lawmakers plan to push to end local governments’ hiring of lobbyists to represent them at the Legislature, but the Clark County Commission last week agreed to negotiate a contract with R&R Partners to lobby on behalf of University Medical Center.

Is there a particular lobbyist who will be working on the UMC account?

Yes, a former assemblyman, Jim Spinello. He has a long history in state politics. The year after he lost a bid for secretary of state in November 1990, he became assistant general manager of the State Industrial Insurance System. Last year, he was appointed chairman of a 60-member committee, Nevada Educators for Edwards, established by then-presidential candidate John Edwards.

Didn’t the county select someone else for the lobbying job recently?

The county’s choice of R&R represents quite a change from its previous choice of J3, the lobbying firm of Robert Uithoven, a longtime Republican who withdrew his name from consideration in August. Democrats dominate the commission 5-2, with Rory Reid, son of the U.S. Senate majority leader, serving as chairman. Uithoven’s being considered for the job drew many questions. Not only has Uithoven worked on behalf of Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons, he argued last summer that the casino industry should be able to obtain refunds for up to $150 million in state taxes that casinos paid on comped meals.

How much is the R&R contract for?

The amount is to be negotiated before being brought to the commission for final approval.

Who else does R&R represent?

Perhaps the better question is: Who doesn’t it represent? During the 2007 session, lobbyists for the firm represented myriad businesses and industries including the Andre Agassi Foundation, the Corrections Corp. of America, the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, Medic West, Las Vegas Monorail, the Nevada Cancer Institute, the Nevada Mining Association, the Nevada Resort Association, Opportunity Village, Planned Parenthood, the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association and US Airways.

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While the state struggles to find answers to its budget problems, Clark County seems to be doing pretty well. Besides holding off on hiring dozens of needed staff, what else is the county doing to tighten its belt?

It helps that the commission meets every two weeks, which allows it to tinker with spending and policies, making timely adjustments when needed. Some tinkering is less intrusive than others. The Las Vegas Sun was recently informed, for instance, that the county no longer wants to pay the bill for the Sun’s phones in the Clark County Government Center and the Regional Justice Center. Savings to the county will amount to about $20 per month, or $240 a year, according to county spokesman Erik Pappa. He said savings will also come from no longer “having county staff process your bill and collect payment.”

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What was the reaction to Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani’s feral cat ordinance?

The first-term commissioner might want to consider running for governor on the “Spay, Don’t Kill” platform. Chris G., as she is known, appears to have won the lifelong loyalty of cat people for her ordinance, which helps residents care for feral felines while aiming to reduce the feral cat population. At the start of a County Commission hearing Tuesday morning, Rory Reid asked for a show of hands by those who supported Giunchigliani’s ordinance. About 50 raised their hands. Those opposed: Six.

Giunchigliani appeared to listen intently to all the comments about “cat haters,” “feeders,” and the Secret Society of Cat Lovers Anonymous before the commission approved the ordinance.