CARSON CITY -- Nearly six of every 10 Nevadans would support a law to prevent legislators from accepting gifts, a Review-Journal poll has found.
The survey of 625 Nevadans found 58 percent favor banning legislators from accepting gifts, while 35 percent oppose the idea and 7 percent are undecided.
Advertisement
In the wake of a scandal in which 11 Southern Nevada legislators accepted tickets valued at more than $300 to Rolling Stones and Luis Miguel concerts, several proposals are being prepared to block or limit gifts to lawmakers and other public officials.
Craig Walton, president of the Nevada Center for Public Ethics, said gifts are nothing more than a "back-handed bribe."
"Is it bad morally to just say no?" he asked. "Lobbyists put themselves in a loving, schmoozing relationship with legislators with gifts. Joe Nevada and Jane Nevada don't give gifts and don't get the same access to legislators."
The survey was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. by telephone April 3-5. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Brad Coker, managing partner of Mason-Dixon, said he expected as many as 70 percent of people would back a ban.
Walton was satisfied that 58 percent support outlawing gifts to legislators. He expects the margin will increase as his group finalizes its ethics plan and tries to build public support.
He added he might exempt expenditures of $5 or $10 on public officials. That would mean lobbyists could buy things like coffee or birthday cards for lawmakers, he said.
Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, who is authoring legislation to outlaw gifts to public officials, said she senses a great deal of support for her plan. She said legislators must clarify the law so public officers know specifically what gifts or forms of entertainment are prohibited.
"We need to include golf games and lap dances," added Titus, referencing testimony in the ongoing public corruption trial of two former County Commissioners.
Assemblywoman Francis Allen, R-Las Vegas, favors a dialogue in the Legislature on gifts but says there has been little public uproar about the Rolling Stones tickets.
In her talks with constituents, Allen said the issue never comes up. Allen took a ticket to the concert that she valued at $500. She later decided accepting the ticket was wrong and made a $500 donation to a high school soccer program.
Allen pointed out that she reported the ticket as a gift on her financial disclosure statement. State law allows the acceptance of gifts as long as gifts valued at $200 or more are reported by public officials.
"I followed the law," Allen said. "I reported the ticket. I shouldn't have gone to the Rolling Stones concert in the first place. I like country music."
