Thursday, June 4, 1998 | 5:01 a.m.
Labor leaders say they plan to spend up to $2 million to defeat the GOP measure, while Republicans say they hope to spend up to $3 million on its behalf.
Labor leaders said Tuesday's resounding defeat of a similar measure in California would help swing momentum against the Nevada proposal.
If passed, the initiative would change the Nevada Constitution to require that unions seek annual permission from members before spending any portion of their dues on political campaigns.
"I predict the same voter outcome for it in Nevada," said Danny Thompson, political director for the Nevada AFL-CIO. "What's encouraging to us is that once you tell people the truth about it, they don't support it.
"It would tilt the balance of power even more to corporations in campaign finances."
Chuck Muth, chairman of the Nevada Republican Liberty Caucus, predicted the vote on it in November would be close.
"In Las Vegas parlance, I'd say it's a pick-em," he said. "We always knew those early poll numbers (showing strong support) for it would come down.
"But what happened Tuesday in California will benefit us ... Hopefully, we'll be better prepared for the lies spread by union bosses."
But labor leaders plan to mount a statewide advertising campaign to point out the fact that many top Nevada Republicans have come out against the initiative, Thompson said.
Among those against it are gubernatorial candidate Kenny Guinn, state attorney general candidate Scott Scherer, Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, and state Sens. Mark James and Randolph Townsend.
The labor ads also will point out that Las Vegas casino executive Sheldon Adelson is bankrolling the Republican effort, Thompson said. Adelson is an ardent foe of Culinary Local 226.
"We're going to do everything in our power to educate people about it," Thompson said. "A statewide campaign costs a million dollars, so our campaign will be over that. I'm sure it'll be in the millions."
Gov. Bob Miller, a Democrat, is a leader of Nevadans for Fairness, a group opposed to the paycheck initiative.
He said corporations already outspend labor 7-to-1 on political campaigns, and he plans to speak out against the plan in the fall.
"The voters in California saw through the hype," Miller said. "This is a partisan attempt by the Republican Party to create an uneven playing field in campaign spending."
Muth defended the measure, saying it gives union leaders an advantage given no one else. But he acknowledged Republican leaders are facing a stiff fight to win its passage.
To qualify it for the November ballot, they're facing a June 16 deadline to submit petitions with 46,764 signatures.
Muth said the group has collected 60,000 signatures, but is unsure whether it has enough signatures yet in 13 of 17 Nevada counties as required by state law.
"I'm hopeful of getting the signatures, but I'm not guaranteeing anything," he said.
Muth also acknowledged Republican leaders are facing hurdles in raising the $2 million or $3 million for the campaign.
"Unions intimidated business interests in California not to contribute to it. We may face the same problem here," he said.
Opposition to the initiative by top Republicans also will hurt the effort, he acknowledged.
archive
