Legislator-to-lobbyist work gap urged

CARSON CITY -- Assembly Majority Leader John Oceguera announced Wednesday he will propose a two-year cooling off period before former legislators can serve as legislative lobbyists.

His announcement comes a day after the Clark County Commission rejected a contract to allow former Assemblyman Morse Arberry, D-Las Vegas, to serve as a lobbyist for the district courts and justices courts in Clark County.

Arberry resigned after 25 years as a legislator on Aug. 31. Under the proposed contract, Arberry would have begun work for the courts on Sept. 1. Documents showed he had been negotiating parts of the proposed contract before he resigned as a legislator.

Sixteen former legislators served as legislative lobbyists last year and during the special session in February.

Details of the bill has not been completed. But Oceguera said he wants not just a two-year cooling off period for legislators, but for any elected official before he or she can be hired to lobby the government body where he or she served.

He also wants a two-year cooling off period before an elected official or regulator can be hired to work for any agency they regulated or oversaw.

"We're serious about reforming the way Nevada government does its business," Oceguera said.

"Today, we are putting a series of reforms before the public. They are common sense and timely measures, and I will work for bipartisan support in both the Assembly and Senate."

In addition to the bill requiring a cooling off period, Oceguera said he and other legislators are preparing a bill to put the state of Nevada's checkbook online so citizens can see how every dollar is spent and another bill to require all candidates for public office to report all their contributions within 72 hours of receipt. Names of donors and the amounts they contributed would be required in the reports.

Now only donations of over $100 must be reported by the name of the donor. No contribution reports are required between the end of May and end of October during election years.

Oceguera, who is in line to become Assembly speaker in 2011 if the Democrats control the body, referred to these reforms as a way to "shine a bright light on government."

Oceguera also calls for putting the entire state budget on the Internet so taxpayers can see what takes priority.

The budget already can be found on the Internet at nevadaspending.com.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900.