If you were trying to craft a fictional story about the Nevada Legislature, a character such as Assemblyman Ty Cobb would seem so unrealistic that readers would just shrug him aside as the writer's stereotype.
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But Cobb, a Republican from Reno, continues to stick right to the script. And at this rate, you could pen an item a day out of his galling lack of respect for his job.
It is rare for a freshman to garner front-page news, but Cobb accomplished it in his hometown newspaper Tuesday after casting the lone nay vote against the ceremonial election of Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas as Assembly speaker. Not only doesn't the brash know-it-all know when he should bite his tongue, he also hasn't learned the first rule of legislative politics -- how to count.
The time to make a statement is during the election season. If the minority can mount the right candidates, even in the most gerrymandered districts, victory is possible. That's why we are currently calling Nancy Pelosi "Madame Speaker."
Cobb followed up on his opening day idiocy with another asinine, "I'm the smartest guy in the room" move: correcting veteran lawmaker Bernie Anderson, D-Sparks, on his pronunciation of hamlet Verdi.
Anderson apparently didn't put enough emphasis on the "er."
Cobb was quietly reminded of protocol in a closed session with leaders of both parties, and then, as a public rebuke, Assistant Republican Leader Heidi Gansert gave Buckley a belated congratulation speech on Assembly floor.
It was as much to appease the speaker as to knock down any future civil disobedience from her fellow Reno representative.
"I believe all of us were elected, not to promote an individual agenda but for the good of the whole state," Gansert said. "We are one Nevada." She said it made no difference if the representative came from the North or South, was a man or woman, a Democrat or Republican. "As a fellow female legislator, a wife and a mother, I recognize your commitment to public service," Gansert told Buckley.
Then came Cobb's public husking: "To be successful in this body, you have to earn respect," Gansert said. "Madame Speaker, you have my respect."
• Gansert's remarks marked a nice show of bipartisanship to start the session.
Assembly Majority Leader John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas, kicked off the week paying homage to the speakers he saw leading the state as a kid growing up in the North and the ones with whom he served. It was a touching passing of the baton.
"These men were larger than life to me, and I considered myself fortunate to serve with some of them. I feel the same way about Barbara Buckley.
"But we all know they all shared one fundamental characteristic," he added. "They were all men. Until today."
• While the Assembly and Senate never have much to do on the first week, the money committees are already picking through budgets.
Andrew Clinger, Gov. Jim Gibbons' budget director, was once again in a difficult position Tuesday, trying -- thanks to a moving set of numbers -- to justify expansion of the governor's office staff.
There have already been so many revisions to the governor's budget, presented just two weeks ago, that lawmakers are having trouble tracking a sizable increase to the governor's office budget. Clinger needs to be the best-versed aide in the building, but the changes are setting him up for a fall.
And it's no wonder. The word from the building across the quad is that the governor doesn't spend much time in his new office. He's certainly not in the Legislative Building, either.
On Monday, his office called legislators and asked whether it was imperative that Gibbons be in his office because the governor didn't much feel like coming to work that day.
In the days leading up to Buckley's ascendancy, every living speaker and governor was asked to sign a gigantic gavel, which was to be presented to Madame Speaker. Each complied and signed where they were told, in gold ink.
Gibbons decided he wasn't up to the gold standard. He chose silver. Must be another Northern Nevada thing.
• Lobbyist Alfredo Alonso has never suffered a lack of clients, but the 29 he's registered to represent so far are already cause for playful ribbing from other firms.
Several lobbyists were wondering why a massive wooden plank covers the storefront facade of Lionel Sawyer & Collins' famed office across the street from the Legislative Building. Turns out a car recently took out a wall there.
One lobbyist said it seems as though Alonso did the drive-by and made off with some of the law firm's clients.
"All that's missing is the spray paint that says, 'LR was here,' '' the lobbyist said, referring to Alonso's firm, Lewis and Roca.
Erin Neff's column runs Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. She can be reached at (702) 387-2906, or by e-mail at eneff@reviewjournal.com.
