Editorial: A political education is under way

Halfway through the legislative session, Assembly Democrats are growing frustrated with Republican Gov. Kenny Guinn. Assemblyman Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, the normally reserved Assembly majority leader, last week chided Guinn for waiting until the legislative session was almost half over before revealing how he wanted to spend health funds from a tobacco settlement. Democrats also are upset with what they see as inconsistent signals regarding Guinn's vows to veto legislation increasing state fees. Another sore point is the continuing changes Guinn keeps making to the state budget he initially proposed, which Perkins asserts is delaying the Legislature's ability to make headway.

"I work for the people of the state of Nevada and nobody else," Guinn responded angrily. "I've been in crunch time all my life, and I don't run from any crunch time or anything else." Guinn needs to understand that while he was elected directly by the people so, too, were each of the state legislators. Guinn may have faced "crunch time" before as a corporate executive, but this is radically different. There is nothing that could have adequately prepared him to work with 21 senators and 42 assemblymen, each with his own mandate. In addition, public statements by Guinn about how he wants to defeat several Democratic legislators next year don't do much to calm the situation.

Political hardball cuts both ways, and Assembly Democrats have the ability to retaliate by gutting the Republican governor's programs if Guinn insists that it's his way or no way. Democrats, who have grown accustomed to having a Democrat in the governor's office for 16 years, also will need to be flexible in their dealings with a governor from a different party. Unlike past legislative sessions that could drag on until the early part of July, this session will have to end May 30. The bottom line is that Guinn and the Democrats will need to come to a truce fast if this legislative session is to be productive.

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