Few show up for governor’s Easter egg hunt

By David McGrath Schwartz, Cy Ryan

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Gov. Jim Gibbons had 5,000 painted eggs ready to distribute Sunday.

He still has several thousand of the souvenirs, after only 150 people showed up to celebrate part of their Easter with the state’s chief executive, according to Mendy Elliott, special assistant to the governor.

Last year Gibbons distributed 2,000 eggs at the annual event, where children can have their picture taken with the governor.

Asked why the turnout at the Governor’s Mansion was so small, Elliot said it had nothing to do with controversies surrounding Gibbons. The governor’s public statements of late have focused on disputing allegations leveled by his estranged wife, Dawn, that he has been unfaithful.

Gibbons’ staff instead blamed the poor turnout on the weather — it was, apparently, too nice a day to spend part of it with the governor.

“It was a wonderful day and people were spending time with their families,” Elliott said.

In truth, the weather — partly cloudy to cloudy and 81 degrees — was about the same as it was last year — partly cloudy to cloudy and 70 degrees.

One difference this year: The colored eggs wished a happy Easter from Gibbons only, omitting any mention of the first lady. The question now is what to do with them.

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With last week’s deadline to pass bills out of committees behind it, the Assembly on Monday stepped up its effort to approve bills and send them to the Senate.

Most of the bills before the Assembly passed unanimously, or with a couple of no votes from the more conservative members of the Republican caucus.

The only proposal with a significant number of no votes was Assembly Majority Leader John Oceguera’s bill to ban novelty lighters. The Democrat, a deputy fire chief with the North Las Vegas Fire Department, warned that lighters shaped like microphones and cell phones, among other things, pose a danger to children.

“A vote against this measure is a vote against the safety of children,” Oceguera said as he flicked some of the novelty lighters.

Assemblyman James Settelmeyer, R-Gardnerville, rose in opposition. “I prefer personal responsibility to regulation,” he said.

All of the Republicans except Assemblyman Chad Christensen voted against the bill.

Owing to the strong Democratic majority, it passed.

•••

On a partisan vote, the Senate Finance Committee rejected Gibbons’ plan to scrap the Consumer Heath Assistance Office, which helps Nevadans with disputed medical bills.

Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, said Nevadans’ medical bills have risen by 100 percent in the past seven years, making the office’s work more important.

Gibbons recommended eliminating the 10-employee office in Las Vegas for a savings of more than $940,000 over the next two years. State Budget Director Andrew Clinger told the committee the office was considered a lower priority than such things as schools.

Horsford’s motion was to finance eight positions instead of 10, which will cost about $770,000 over the next two years.

Democrats voted to continue the operation while Republicans opposed.

The Assembly Ways and Means Committee, the other budget committee in the Legislature, has also decided to retain the office.

Sun Capital Bureau Chief Cy Ryan can be reached at (775) 687-5032 or at [email protected]. David McGrath Schwartz can be reached at (775) 687-4597 or at [email protected].