Guinn didn't authorize raise for Loux

Former Gov. Kenny Guinn testified Thursday he didn't authorize Nuclear Projects Director Bob Loux to raise his own pay.

The testimony came during the first day of the Ethics Commission hearing into whether Loux illegally raised his own salary above that of even the governor.

Loux was removed from his position after it was revealed he gave himself and seven staff members raises above the amounts approved by the Legislature. Between June 2005 and August 2008, the overpayments received by those employees was $195,790, with Loux getting $67,585. They reallocated funds from a vacant position in the office.

The salaries in the Nuclear Project Office have since been rolled back.

The governor has authority to raise pay of those in his office without legislative approval. Guinn was subpoenaed along with every chief of staff who served under him to determine whether Loux had gotten permission for the increases.

Guinn testified he reviewed every raise granted within his office and remembers granting raises to much lower-level staff members. He said he is certain that, if he had done so for Loux, he would remember.

"I don't know how I could forget it," he said.

Guinn said he valued Loux's knowledge of the Yucca Mountain project and, if Loux had requested it, he would almost certainly have raised his salary. He said no such request was ever received.

Asked whether any of his chiefs of staff might have approved the raises, Guinn said he highly doubts it.

"I doubt that any chief of staff for me would have paid somebody more than they made themselves," he said.

The hearing will continue today with testimony from Guinn's former chiefs of staff as well as those who have served under Gov. Jim Gibbons.

In addition to losing his job and the ethics hearing, Loux faces a petition by the governor's office to make him pay back the extra money he received.

The Ethics Commission is expected to finish its hearing today.

- Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.