Goings On Under The Silver Dome

Nevada Observer Legislative Analyst Reports

by Dawn Gibbons

As the 2005 Legislative session steadily approaches, it’s clear hot button issues like property values, open meeting laws, tort reform, election reform, health care in all its forms and, of course, taxes will clamor for lawmakers’ attention in Carson City. Still, the even hotter issue will be who sits on the committees hearing these top ranking agenda items.

Because of the partisan legislative upset Nov. 2, we’re going to see a mad-cap game of musical committee chairs in Capital City which could change—for better or worse— lawmaking in the Silver State for at least the ‘05-‘06 biennium.

Assembly and Senate Leadership determine which members serve on which committees. They take into consideration a lawmaker’s previous committee experiences, his or her vocational background (i.e. someone with accounting skills can bring expertise to one of the money committees) and, let’s not forget, the legislator’s party affiliation.

The majority party has always had the power to manipulate the political makeup of any committee. In fact, in 2002, Democratic leadership threatened to use their power to determine which Republicans could serve on which committees, a move Senator Bill Raggio (R-Washoe) told the Las Vegas Sun would set “bad precedent.” Thus we see the majority party power has rarely been exercised.

So far, Senate committee assignments have been finalized: Senator Raggio will serve as the 2005 Senate Majority Leader. He will also serve as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Senator Mike McGinness (R-Central Nevada) remains Chairman of Taxation, Sen. Mark Amodei (R-Carson City) retains his Judiciary Chairmanship, Senator Dean Rhoads (R-Northern Nevada) is once again Chairman of Natural Resources and Senator Randolph Townsend (R-Washoe) will continue to chair the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee.

New assignments go to Senator Warren Hardy (R-Clark), now Chairman of Government Affairs, a position once held by former Senator Ann O'Connell, who was defeated in a Republican Primary. Senator Maurice Washington (R-Washoe) takes over the Education and Human Resources Committee, a position once held by former Senator Ray Rawson. Senator Dennis Nolan (R-Clark) will chair the Transportation Committee, which has been expanded to include Homeland Security.

Senate Republicans lost a seat this election go-around, which means Democrats get to place one more member of their party on each committee and Republicans have to take one away. Senator Sandra Tiffany (R-Clark) was forced to give up her spot on the powerful Senate Finance Committee. In her place will be Minority Leader Dina Titus (D-Clark), serving alongside Democrats Bob Coffin (D-Clark) and Bernice Mathews (D-Washoe). Similar changes were made on all the Senate committees.

Assembly committee assignments take longer and are more challenging to arrange because of sheer numbers (42 Assemblymen and women vs. 21 Senators) and, in turn, sheer partisanship (16 Republicans vs. 26 Democrats). Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins (D-Clark) and Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick (R-Douglas) have made their assignments.

(Ed. Note: The first name is committee chairman. The first name in the Republican column is that party's leader.)

Ways and Means:

Democrats: Morse Arberry, Chris Giunchigliani, Moises Denis, Joe Hogan, Ellen Koivisto, Sheila Leslie, Kathy McClain, Debbie Smith, and Rickard Perkins.

Republicans: Heidi Gansert, John Marvel Bob Seale, Valerie Weber and Lynn Hettrick.

Judiciary

Democrats: Bernie Anderson, William Horne, Barbara Buckley, Marcus Conklin, Susan Gerhardt, Mark Manendo, Harry Mortenson, John Oceguera, and Genie Ohrenschall.

Republicans: Francis Allen, John Carpenter, Brooks Holcomb, Garn Mabey, and Rod Sherer.

Government Affairs

Democrats: David Parks, Peggy Pierce, Kelvin Atkinson, Jerry Claborn, Marilyn Kirkpatrick, Bob McCleary, Harvey Munford, and Bonnie Parnell.

Republicans: Chad Christiansen, Pete Goicoechea, Tom Grady, Joe Hardy, and Scott Sibley.

Commerce and Labor

Democrats: Barbara Buckley, John Oceguera, Bernie Anderson, Morse Arberry, Marcus Conklin, Chris Giunchigliani, Kathy McClain, David Parks, and Richard Perkins.

Republicans: Francis Allen, Heidi Gansert, Lynn Hettrick, Bob Seale, and Rod Sherer.

Education

Democrats: Bonnie Parnell, Debbie Smith, Kelvin Atkinson, William Horne, Bob McCleary, Mark Manendo, and Harvey Munford.

Republicans: Sharon Angle, Joe Hardy, Brooks Holcomb, and Garn Mabey.

Elections, Procedures, and Ethics - Constitutional Amendments

Democrats: Ellen Koivisto, Harry Mortenson, Marcus Conklin, Moises Denis, Chris Giunchigliani, Bob McCleary, Kathy McClain, and Harvey Munford.

Republicans: Sharon Angle, Heidi Gansert, Brooks Holcomb, Bob Seale, and Scott Sibley.

Growth and Infrastructure

Democrats: Richard Perkins, David Parks, Bernie Anderson, Chris Giunchigliani, Marilyn Kirkpatrick, Sheila Leslie, Harry Mortenson, and Peggy Pierce.

Republicans: Francis Allen, Sharon Angle, Tom Grady, Lynn Hettrick, and Valerie Weber.

Health and Human Services

Democrats: Sheila Leslie, Kathy McClain, Susan Gerhardt, William Horne, Ellen Koivisto, Bonnie Parnell, and Peggy Pierce.

Republicans: Sharon Angle, Joe Hardy, Garn Mabey, and Valerie Weber.

Natural Resources, Agriculture and Mining

Democrats: Jerry Claborn, Kelvin Atkinson, Moises Denis, Joe Hogan, Marilyn Kirkpatrick, Genie Ohrenschall, and Debbie Smith.

Republicans: John Carpenter, Pete Goicoechea, Tom Grady, and John Marvel.

Transportation

Democrats: John Oceguera, Genie Ohrenschall, Kelvin Atkinson, Jerry Claborn, Susan Gerhardt, Joe Hogan, and Mark Manendo.

Republicans: Chad Christiansen, Pete Goicoechea, Rod Scherer, and Scott Sibley.