Bills on meetings of Legislature advance out of Assembly

By David McGrath Schwartz

Wednesday, April 15, 2009 | 1 a.m.

The state Assembly passed two bills that would beef up the Legislature's power if passed by voters.

Assembly Joint Resolution 5 would allow the Legislature to call themselves into special session if two-thirds of legislators sign a petition.

Assembly Joint Resolution 6 would have the Legislature meet every year, instead of every other year.

Both of the measures need to pass the Senate, and then would have to be passed in 2011. They would then go to a vote of the people in 2012. The first even-year special session would be in 2014.

Both bills passed, but face significant opposition from the minority Republicans.

In support of AJR5, Assemblyman Harry Mortenson, D-Las Vegas, brought up the case of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was removed from office by the Illinois Legislature after being caught on wire taps trying to sell a U.S. Senate seat.

"If that happened here, we couldn't call a special session, and the governor wouldn't call a special session to impeach himself," Mortenson said.

It was opposed by Assembly Republicans. Assemblyman James Settelmeyer pointed to a similar vote in 2003 that voters rejected 52-48.

"I think this would add a whole new level of politics that we don't want to enter into," he said.

AJ06 was also opposed by Republicans. The Nevada Legislature currently meets in odd-numbered years for 120 days. The constitutional amendment would add a 60-day session during even years.

"We all know in our hearts that you can't do this work every other year," said Assemblyman Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas.

Assemblyman Ty Cobb, R-Reno, said he opposed the proposal because it would "move us further and further away from the tradition of the citizen Legislature."

Assembly Majority Leader John Oceguera said when he first arrived in Carson City, he opposed annual sessions for that reason. But he pointed out the increasing frequency of special sessions, including two last year to deal with the budget situation.

"Over time, I've found we can't get it done as far as the fiscal part of this process," Oceguera said.