Don’t pay lobbyists to do commissioners’ job

Shirley Braverman, Las Vegas

Wednesday, April 8, 2009 | 2:01 a.m.

Regarding a story in Sunday’s Las Vegas Sun, “Many hands at work on lobbying effort this year: Commissioners are at it too, joining county staff and hired guns”:

Let the Clark County commissioners speak for themselves. The Clark County Commission hires public relations firms to the tune of $200,000 to lobby the state Legislature when we don’t have money for medical services! Are we out of our minds?

The last time I sat in on a commissioners’ session it seemed to me that all the commissioners could speak up for themselves pretty well. Isn’t that part of their job, to have them and their ample and efficient county staff do the lobbying for Clark County? After all, Carson City isn’t that far away.

Can’t they just sit down like folks and discuss things? I think lobbyists are one of the evils in our government. Our representatives in Carson City are required to consider our needs with the rest of the state.

Once again Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani has it right when she supports the anti-lobbying bill. Listen to the lady, guys; she’ll show you how to save money.