Nevada Assembly Democrats called for ethics reform Monday, notably for the automatic removal from office of a state official who violates ethics laws three times and the prohibition of public officials from using government resources for a political campaign.
Also at issue is for Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) that contribute to campaigns to file contribution and expenditure reports and to register with the secretary of state.
Perhaps the most fatuous and obvious statement was that of Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas who said, "Confidence has been seriously eroded in the last couple of years with indictments, convictions and scandals." You think?
According to a Reno Gazette-Journal article Fred Lokken, a political science professor at Truckee Meadows Community College believes there won't be reform for two reasons: "One, the public is not clamoring for it and, two, they don't want to cut off the deals they have."
Similar legislation passed in the Assembly in the 2005 session, but failed in the Senate.
One area the Democrats' bill does not address is "bundling," whereby a person or group can donate more than the $10,000 campaign limit through various LLCs. Recently, the Wall Street Journal reported that Reno businessman Warren Trepp donated $90,000 to the campaign of Gov. Jim Gibbons through a number of separate companies.
Actually, it seems like business as usual in Nevada. With all the shows on the Las Vegas Strip for the tourists, entertainment for the locals appears to include following the scandals but without really being bothered. Although, I hear at least three times a week from locals in Las Vegas that they had more confidence when the "mob" was running things.
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