Heck to take over Sloan Hills bill

New Sen. Dean Heller's move to the other side of the U.S. Capitol, leaves hanging a handful of bills he sponsored when he was a House member.

But on one issue closely watched in the southern sector of the Las Vegas Valley, Rep. Joe Heck today took over the lead on Heller legislation that seeks to block development of a gravel quarry at Sloan Hills.

Heck, R-Nev., got permission from House leaders to be designated "first sponsor" of H.R. 856, the Sloan Hills Withdrawal Act, according to his office.

As such, he would pick up the push for House hearings and to add any further supporters.

"We had cosponsored it and have been following up on that so it wasn't going to fall in the cracks," Heck spokesman Darren Littell said.

On March 1, Heller, with Heck and Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., as cosponsors, reintroduced a bill that would declare mining off limits on 800 acres overseen by the Bureau of Land Management at Sloan Hills outside Henderson. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., introduced a companion bill in the Senate.

Lawmakers acted on complaints by residents of Sun City Anthem and other housing developments that the plot of land might be leased to two companies looking to extract construction material used to make concrete. Residents said they feared nonstop flows of truck traffic and noise, and possible further harm to their home values.

Heller had introduced 9 bills in the House since January. "We are currently working with a number of House members who have expressed an interest in sponsoring Senator Heller’s previously introduced bills," Heller's spokesman Stewart Bybee said.

One Heller bill would extend the tax depreciation period for motorsports facilities such as the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, while another provides a five-year tax recovery period for computer-based gaming machines.

One bill would temporarily increase the investment tax credit for geothermal energy property. Another would write into law a boundary change for the Coyote Springs development in Lincoln County, according to congressional aides.