Legislative Briefly

Amendment to lift legislative term limits

Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks, on Monday introduced a proposed constitutional amendment that would remove the Legislature from term limits.

Senate Joint Resolution 10 was referred to the Legislative Operations and Elections Committee for study.

Under term limits, no lawmaker can serve more than a dozen years in each legislative house. It was originally put into the Constitution by voters who agreed with the argument that too many lawmakers were serving far too long.

Washington said he believes term limits are unconstitutional because the Supreme Court changed the ballot question the second time it went to a vote of the people, removing themselves from it.

Philosophically, he said, he believes it disenfranchises the voters.

"It basically takes away the right of the voter to retain or discard their representative," he said.

In order to change the constitution, the resolution must pass two consecutive legislatures, then win a majority vote from the public at the following general election.

Local governments could raise tax rates

The Senate Government Affairs Committee is reviewing legislation that would restore to local governments the ability to impose, raise, lower or repeal taxes.

That authority has been almost entirely taken away from local officials over the years by the Legislature.

SB264 would authorize local governments to impose property taxes, sales and use taxes, room and fuel taxes as well as real property transfer taxes.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Terry Care, D-Las Vegas.

Domestic partner legislation proposed

A bill that would create a "domestic partnership" with rights similar to those created by a marriage was introduced in the Nevada Senate on Monday.

SB283 by Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, specifically states that a domestic partnership is not the same as a marriage which, in the Nevada Constitution, is described as only between a man and a woman. But it creates a similar civil contract that would be recognized in the state.

The bill was referred to the Commerce and Labor Committee for study.

Biennial lottery resolution introduced

A resolution proposing to change Nevada's Constitution to permit a lottery was introduced in the Assembly on Monday.

A version of AJR7 has been introduced in most recent sessions of the Legislature but never managed to win approval and make it to the ballot.

The proposed amendment would completely repeal the ban on lotteries in Nevada.

It was referred to the Elections, Procedures, Ethics and Constitutional Amendments Committee for study.

Gov. Gibbons faces GOP challengers

(AP) " Former state Sen. Joe Heck of Henderson has become the second Republican to challenge Gov. Jim Gibbons, issuing an expected news release on Monday that he would seek the gubernatorial nomination in 2010.

Heck, a one-term senator who lost a re-election race in November, joins North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon in running against a fellow Republican who has faced difficult private and public issues.

"When government leaders put politics ahead of the people it creates bad policy and partisan gridlock," Heck stated.