It hardly matters ex-lawmakers agree on changing Legislature

Changing an institution is slow, painful and sometimes impossible. But it’s not because people don’t have the answers. They do.

Separately, I asked two senators now retired from the Legislature for suggestions on how to improve the Legislature.

Democrat Terry Care of Las Vegas and Republican Randolph Townsend of Reno have different philosophies, but essentially agreed on three changes: fewer bills, a budget session and better pay. Wasn’t that easy?

Care is a Las Vegas attorney and former newsman who spent 12 years in the state Senate and wouldn’t have run again even if he hadn’t been term limited. With his background in journalism, he was an advocate for public records and open meetings and was known for working in a bipartisan fashion to try to solve the state’s tax issues, a valiant but failed effort in 2003.

Townsend is an investor and former race car driver who spent 28 years in the state Senate and he definitely would have run for another term but for term limits. Gov. Jim Gibbons appointed Townsend to the part-time Nevada Gaming Commission in April.

Longtime chairman of the state Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, Townsend left his fingerprints all over some of the state’s most complex issues, including workers’ compensation, energy, telecommunications, homeowner associations and mental health.

Oddly, both started with the same proposal: Lawmakers think their job is to go to Carson City to pass bills, but too many bills are introduced and the numbers should be reduced.

More than 670 bill drafts already are requested for the 2011 session. Some are duplicates. Some have no chance of passing. Others will never go to a committee.

These former legislators concurred. When it comes to asking the Legislative Counsel Bureau to write a bill, less is more. Just because a legislator has the right to ask for a bill to be drafted, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Agencies and other government bodies should be further restricted from asking for bill drafts.

“It costs between $700 and $1,000 to draft a bill,” Townsend said. With the budget in dire straits, it’s not a question of whether a bill is going to pass “but is it even going to get heard.”

He suggested people not be able to put their names on bill drafts until a bill is introduced, because bill drafts often are sought without specifics.

Both agreed the 120-day session every odd-numbered year should be supplemented by a shorter session in even-numbered years to address the budget.

It’s a sensible idea, but who is going to take the politically unpopular lead to change the Nevada Constitution to allow the Legislature to meet annually?

Townsend suggested this: The governor could call a 45-day special session for the budget in even-numbered years.

Then there’s the pay. Legislators are only paid for the first 60 days of each 120-day session.

“When the voters decide, that’s it. I can’t criticize it,” Care said. “You know what the rules are when you run.”

However, paying legislators only for the first 60 days, a total of $8,760, plus a $161 per diem, means lawmakers aren’t quite paid minimum wage, Care noted. “It’s not so much the pocketbook issue, but it says something about what people think of legislators in general.” It adds to the contempt people have for legislators.

“If you want better people, you’d better pay them,” Townsend said.

But that’s another idea anathema to voters.

Limiting bills, meeting annually, better pay for lawmakers. All would improve the Legislature. But without an advocate, this is little more than a wish list for Santa.

Maybe next year.

Townsend and Care offer advice to newbie legislators in Thursday’s column.

Jane Ann Morrison’s column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call 702- 383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/morrison.