Tip for local government officials: Don’t poke the lawmaking bears

By David McGrath Schwartz

Friday, April 29, 2011 | 5:11 p.m.

Some quick rules to follow if you don’t want to get screwed by the Legislature:

1. Don’t insult lawmakers.

2. If you can’t follow rule number one, at least don’t broadcast it in a televised meeting.

Elected county commissioners and city council members are badmouthing legislators during their televised meetings, lawmakers complained this week.

“I listen to council meetings, because frankly you’re mean and you blame us (the Legislature) for everything bad,” Assemblywoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas, said to a local government representative on Thursday.

Later in the meeting, (to examine money the counties and cities have sitting around) Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford chastised a city of Reno representative for council members openly attacking a colleague of his. (He didn’t name names, but he was referring to council members’ criticism of Sen. Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, who is pushing a bill to create a ward system in the city of Reno.)

Horsford said elected officials need to focus on the state's bigger problems.

He didn't need to point out that lawmakers have the power to take money from local governments.