Saturday, May 10, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Neal questions use of closed-door tax work

CARSON CITY -- Sen. Joe Neal asked on the Senate floor Friday whether leadership was undermining the Legislature's tax panels by meeting behind closed doors to determine tax policy.

Neal, D-North Las Vegas, was commenting on news reports that legislative leaders serving on the budget and tax panels were meeting privately to work out the size and type of tax increase needed to fund the 2003-2005 budget.

"I would like to inquire of our tax chairman as to whether or not we are a committee that would be considering tax policy, or has it somehow been deferred to some other group that has not been appointed in the Legislature here," he said.

Neal is a member of the Senate Taxation Committee looking at a variety of tax proposals, including Gov. Kenny Guinn's plan for $1 billion in new revenues to fund his $4.8 billion budget.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, responded to Neal's comment, saying that meetings between leadership occur every session to find solutions to differences between the two houses."This is not unusual, nor is it prohibited in any way," he said.

Neal said his concern was prompted in part by hearing gaming lobbyists walking the legislative halls offering to keep lawmakers informed on the closed-door meetings. "It gives me pause to think that this process has been hijacked by the gamers," he said.

Neal long has advocated a gaming tax increase as the solution to the state's budget woes, a position strongly opposed by the gaming industry.

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson echoed Raggio's comments, saying the leadership of the two houses always has met privately to communicate positions on issues.

"We need some way to communicate between the houses," he said. "Whatever discussions occur, the members themselves will make the decisions."