Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Proposal targets anonymous bill drafts

Anonymous bill draft requests would be abolished under legislation requested by a pair of lawmakers.

Bill Draft Request 1220, submitted by Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, is co-sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas.

Publicity surrounding an anonymous bill draft submitted last week seeking to rename Nevada as East California was the impetus for the proposal, Titus said.

But prohibiting anonymous bill drafts also will help the legislative process, she said.

"One of the most frequent complaints we hear from constituents is that they want the opportunity for more public input as legislation is developed and debated," Titus said. "Knowing from the beginning of the process which legislator is requesting a piece of legislation will enable all interested parties to become involved earlier."

Freshman Assemblyman Ron Knecht, R-Carson City, finally acknowledged Wednesday he was the lawmaker who sought the East California bill draft in a dig at Gov. Kenny Guinn and his tax proposals. No bill drafting was requested. Knecht said it was a joke.

Efforts have been made in past legislative sessions to bar anonymous bill draft requests without success.