Knecht says he expects to support collective bargaining bill

Assemblyman Ron Knecht, R-Carson City, said Friday he doesn't oppose collective bargaining for state workers, even though he wasn't there when the Government Affairs Committee voted to recommend the bill.

"In principle, I don't have a problem with collective bargaining by public employees," he said.

Knecht said the State of Nevada Employees Association satisfied one of his major concerns by putting a "no strike" rule in the bill.

"If I don't find any other problems, then I expect to vote for it on the floor," he said.

Knecht said he missed the committee vote because he had personal business to attend to and another legislative matter that had to be handled before the 11 a.m. floor session Thursday.

Knecht said the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce testified AB65 will drive up salaries, benefits and other compensation, but association representatives testified the bill is actually about employee rights.

He said he's not too worried about the bill being a "budget buster."

"The employees folks said this isn't about wages and benefits and overall compensation levels, that it's mainly about grievances, procedures and working conditions," he said. "My view is that I think we have, or should have, or can have other ways to manage the budget so it doesn't become a budget buster."

And he pointed out that if the bill attempted to take away legislative control over state worker compensation, he believes it would run into constitutional problems anyway.