A few cries of ‘You lie!’ were perhaps needed

By Jon Ralston (contact)

Friday, Sept. 18, 2009 | 2:01 a.m.

Instead of a legislative session that was utterly predictable and ultimately depressing, think if what happened on Capitol Hill could have happened in Carson City to enliven the debate.

Here’s a timeline of what might have been, if only civility were traded in for honesty, if only outbursts were not Joe Wilson-like, full of sound and fury and signifying nothing but an irrepressible Southern cracker, but instead were somehow a pathway to leadership:

• Jan. 15: Gov. Jim Gibbons gives his State of the State speech. He says, “Tough times always require tough choices, and we are definitely making tough choices in this legislative session.”

From the back of the chamber, Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie cries out, “You lie.”

Gibbons glares at her, and in a rare deviation from his script, icily says, “You have two choices: You can do what I tell you to do or I will veto you.”

The Assembly Republicans give the governor a standing ovation. Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley gavels them down.

• Feb. 2: First day of the legislative session. Assemblyman Ty Cobb puts forth a resolution to condemn Leslie for “disrupting the hallowed floor of the people’s house.” Snickering is heard in the press gallery.

The resolution is voted down on a party-line vote.

Later that day, as Buckley gives her introductory speech, talking about how lawmakers will have to make cuts and that no tax plan is being contemplated, Cobb shouts, “You lie.”

The GOP caucus applauds him. Buckley raps her gavel and asks, “Who are you again?”

Over in the state Senate, Majority Leader Steven Horsford gives his own opening-day speech and declares, “We will make Nevada great again.”

Nearby, a voice yells, “You lie.” Horsford is shocked to see it is one of his own, state Sen. Bob Coffin. He shakes his head and continues.

• March 1: With several more outbursts during the following weeks and editorials with headlines such as “Whole lotta lyin’ goin’ on” and “Decorum disappears like Gibbons from the mansion,” a bipartisan group of lawmakers gathers outside the Capitol for a news conference.

“This must end and we must return to the civility that has made this state great,” Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio tells reporters. Horsford seconds that by saying, “We will have very few partisan votes on issues of importance to Nevadans in the coming weeks.” Assembly Majority Leader John Oceguera chimes in: “We will work together as a Legislature to get the people’s business done. The governor has abdicated his role and he will have no place in this process.”

From behind, craning his head out a window, Gibbons snarls, “You lie.”

A few hours later a resolution condemning the governor is introduced in both houses. It is passed on a party-line vote. The Assembly Republicans stand up and boo. State Sen. Maurice Washington gives a long floor statement that invokes slavery, the Bible and the root of evil. He concludes by saying, “This is what I truly believe.”

Nearby, a sneering voice is heard to say, “You lie.” Shockingly enough, it is fellow Republican Randolph Townsend’s.

• June 1: Last day of the session. At a closed-door meeting in the governor’s office, Raggio looks at Gibbons and says, “You lied.”

Gibbons acknowledges he should have signed the room tax because it was in his budget and apologizes to lawmakers for not being more engaged. He also tells them he believes they must pass a budget unanimously for the good of the state. “We are one Nevada,” he says.

“You’re lying,” Buckley retorts.

“No, I have decided not to anymore,” Gibbons replies. “I think the state needs to change the way it does business and I am sick of just saying ‘no new taxes’ every day. It means nothing and I haven’t even fought for it. I will accept some tax increases and I agree business should pay more.”

“You lie,” Horsford rejoins, incredulous.

“There’s been enough lying and accusations of lying,” Gibbons says. “It’s time for more truth in politics. Well, mostly truth.”

They all chuckle.

Gibbons emerges from the meeting with lawmakers to tell the gathered capital press corps that a thoughtful compromise had been achieved that would pass unanimously in both houses, one that would preserve essential services but also fundamentally change the tax structure by including a reasonable mining tax, a bump in gaming taxes and a new Business Finally Pays Its Fair Share Tax.

The reporters look at each other in shock and turn in unison to the governor and legislative leaders and say in chorus:

“You lie.”