Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Assembly Republicans choose moderate Republican as leader

CARSON CITY - Assembly Republicans have tapped as their next leader a Reno lawmaker who is part of the party’s more moderate wing.

Pat Hickey, a fourth-generation Nevadan, replaces former Minority Leader Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, who stepped down to run for state Senate.

Hickey, in a statement, said, he will focus on “supporting a strong conservative agenda” and slate of candidates.

Goicoechea was the most moderate GOP voice in the 2011 session. A majority of Assembly Republicans openly said they would extend taxes passed in 2009 for a list of reforms to things like public employee pensions, health benefits, construction defect law and prevailing wage, even when Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval appeared resolute in his promise to veto any tax increase. Eventually, Sandoval agreed to extend the taxes.

The caucus was split over how hard a line to take on taxes. Hickey was part of the majority who wanted to negotiate taxes in exchange for reforms. The taxes passed in 2011, about $600 million worth, will once again expire in 2013 without legislative action.

Assembly Democrats last week tapped Assemblyman Marcus Conklin, D-Las Vegas, to head their caucus, at least through the election.

Assembly Republicans in 2009 were almost irrelevant, with Democrats controlling two-thirds of the seats, the necessary margin to pass tax increases. Republicans made gains in the 2010 election, and while gaining control of the state’s lower house is almost impossible, they will need to at least keep the number of seats they now have to have a voice in the debate in Carson City.

Hickey was first elected to the Nevada Assembly in 1996 and served for one term. He ran again in 2010.

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