Editorial: Don't shortchange consumer protection

Some businesses justifiably believe that government has become too burdensome, but the reality is that for a number of industries there is virtually little regulation, if at all. And since there are unscrupulous companies out there who try to scam customers out of their money, there is a need for consumer protection laws.

The attorney general's office, whose consumer protection division collected more than $1 million in the past 15 months from telemarketing, utilities and securities firms, wants to add two more members to its consumer protection division so that it will be able to increase the number of disreputable businesses it investigates and takes to court.

Chief Deputy Attorney General Fred Schmidt told the Ways and Means Committee of the Assembly on Wednesday that sometimes the division can't even bring cases to trial because it doesn't have enough attorneys. But the Associated Press reported that some members of the committee are leery of adding an attorney and an investigator, which would boost the division's two-year, $2 million budget by an additional $300,000. Committee Chairman Morse Arberry, D-Las Vegas, worries that the increased costs won't be offset by the fines the division might collect.

Despite the concerns, there appears to be enough shady activity among businesses to justify a higher budget. And as Schmidt noted, electric utility deregulation will begin in about a year. Just as with telephone deregulation, scam artists will be on the prowl in this newly opened market. Even in tight budget times, legislators should find room for this worthy request to protect consumers.

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