Bill to limit governor's appointment power dies in Senate

CARSON CITY -- A bill that would have limited Gov. Kenny Guinn's power to appoint the heads of various state agencies is going nowhere this legislative session.

SB160, authored by Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, was placed on hold after it was approved in a committee. Unless the Senate votes on the measure by Monday, the bill will die.

In his state of the state address in January, Guinn asked the Legislature for the more flexibility and authority - not less - in running the executive branch of Nevada government.

But that's not what would have occurred with SB160, which would have required Senate approval when the governor named a department director or made other key appointments.

Raggio now says the measure won't be pursued out of deference to Guinn, the first Republican governor in Nevada in 16 years. The decision was made despite the fact that the bill, attempted in previous sessions, had a better chance of passing this year.

Rhoads has said Nevada is one of only five states without some kind of appointment confirmation. He says legislative approval of gubernatorial appointments is one of the most important tools in this system of checks and balances.

Rhoads got a similar measure through the Senate four years ago, but couldn't get it approved in the Democrat-controlled Assembly. A Democrat, Bob Miller, was governor.

Eighteen senators - 12 Republicans and six Democrats - put their names on the latest bill.

Critics included Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, who said the governor needs to have final say over appointees in key positions.

"It makes the process more partisan," she said. "Unlike in Washington, where the president is elected and then appoints his cabinet members, we have elections for many cabinet members. There's enough accountability."

The measure would have affected top jobs in the departments of business and industry, natural resources, human resources, DMV and public safety, prisons and taxation. The Senate would also have the final say on members of the state Gaming Control Board, parole commissioners, PUC commissioners and the chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission.

If a position became open when the Legislature wasn't in session, SB160 would have allowed the governor to appoint his choice in an interim capacity, subject to the Senate's approval in the next session.

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