Clark County Commission supports campaign reforms

Politicians raising campaign funds should report more openly about how they receive and spend that money, Clark County commissioners said Tuesday.

While campaign finance reform is not a new discussion, commissioners approved a resolution urging more transparency in the political process.

That includes reporting travel costs - such as locations and reasons for visits - disclosing the names of and money paid to consultants, explaining "miscellaneous" expenses, reporting the date a contribution check is written and when it is received by a candidate, and requiring the secretary of state to immediately issue reports on candidates who file late.

Commissioner Steve Sisolak sponsored the idea after reading about comments recently made by Assemblyman Pat Hickey, R-Reno, who called for fall primary elections, campaign contribution limits and a cooling-off period before former legislators can return as lobbyists.

"This was never an intent to pick an individual or one particular party," Sisolak said. "We have a cooling-off period, other entities don't. We follow the open meeting law, the Legislature doesn't. I thought this would be another example that we were on the forefront in terms of reporting and transparency."

Although the County Commission unanimously approved the proposal, it was met with some opposition by former state lawmakers and current Commissioners Chris Giunchigliani and Tom Collins, who said the resolution lacks substance.

"It doesn't hurt ever to have government analyze itself or say, 'Here are areas that need to be worked on,' " Giunchigliani said. "But it doesn't go far enough. It doesn't say anything new."

Giunchigliani had her own suggestions outlined in red ink on the proposal, which suggested amending the Nevada Constitution so that politicians who have three or more ethics violations forfeit their offices, increasing penalties for ethics violations and requiring newly elected and appointed public officers to take an ethics course.

Collins defended Giunchigliani, pointing out that she has worked on similar reforms in the past decade that were killed in previous legislative sessions. Collins said he hoped his colleagues would consider some of her suggestions.

But those suggestions were not added to the resolution after a lengthy discussion as Sisolak said he was hesitant to make his proposal more complex.

"I just want to voice support in transparency and reporting requirements," he said.

"I appreciate in the past you tried to make some changes and they weren't accepted by one house or party."

Giunchigliani said she wanted the proposal to be more inclusive.

"Asking us to call on the Legislature to enact certain changes seemed premature to go to a narrow construct recommended at a press conference a few weeks ago," she said.

Giunchigliani said she wanted to add in a component state Sen. Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, tried to pass last year that would require lobbyists to report expenses whether or not the Legislature is in session.