Legislature’s interim financial panel starts term by being tight on spending

CARSON CITY – In a possible sign that they intend to closely watch spending, even if that spending involves federal funds, members of the Legislature’s newly reconstructed Interim Finance Committee rejected spending $73,124 Tuesday to create a website to offer Nevadans information about health matters.

"The Internet is free; there are a variety of websites that people can turn to for help (with medical information)," said Senate Minority Leader Michael Roberson, R-Las Vegas. "I wouldn’t put this on the priority list."

Roberson’s comments were echoed by Assemblywoman Dina Neal, D-North Las Vegas, and other members of both parties. Neal said the current Health and Human Services website is two years out of date – and the agency’s director, Mike Willden, agreed with her remarks.

Assembly Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas, said she turns to the Southern Nevada Health District for medical information.

"Why do we need this?" asked Senate Majority Leader Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas. "The Internet has a million things (on health problems)."

WebMD.com may be the best known website that offers people help with medical problems. Assemblyman Andy Eisen, D-Las Vegas, said the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers much medical information on its website.

The website question was the first item the committee has voted on since it was reconstructed after the Nov. 6 election.

Of the 23 committee members, nine were attending their first meeting, including freshmen Eisen, Michael Sprinkle, D-Sparks, and Paul Anderson, R-Las Vegas. Eisen is a medical doctor.

Serving on the committee, which handles legislative budget matters when the Legislature is not in session, is considered a prize for lawmakers.

Besides the unanimous agreement on the website, lawmakers of both parties acted without any partisanship during a six-hour meeting Tuesday. Most items were adopted unanimously or with only one member in opposition. Considerable amounts of time were spent on items affecting the Wildlife Department and other agencies as members questioned unnecessary spending.

New legislative leaders have emphasized since the election that they intend to work more cooperatively in the future, without as much partisan bickering as in the past.

Funds to create the websites would have come from federal grants. The ongoing cost of the website, about $7,000 a year, also would come from federal grants.

Nevada already ranks near the bottom among states for its return in federal funds in comparison with the federal taxes paid by its citizens.

While Willden admitted his agency needs to improve its existing website, he pushed for approval of the new NVStrong Wellness website. He noted that Nevada is at the bottom among states for its high incidence of diabetes and teen pregnancy.

"I have been the director for a long time, 12 years," Willden said. "We have been at the bottom for health matters for most of my career. It’s embarrassing. We need to take health indicators seriously. We don’t put enough money into public health, if we don’t try, we will continue to be in last place for everything health."

He and Monica Morales, program development manager for the Chronic Disease Prevention Program, had emphasized the new websites would link to other major health information sites. It also would like list coming health care events in all regions of the state.

Denis said if Willden comes back to Interim Finance in the future to sell the website idea, more emphasis should be placed on how the agency would publicize the site and what indicators would be used to determine whether it is making a difference for citizens.

Willden opened the discussion by noting that the state might even receive less in federal funds in the future, depending on what happens with the so-called "fiscal cliff" budget crisis in Washington, which threatens to put in place automatic federal cuts and tax increases in January unless an agreement is reached in Congress.

"There is never going to be enough money to meet all the social service requests we get," he said.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.