Editorial: Legislature considers power play

On Wednesday Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, introduced legislation that would require the Senate to confirm the governor's department directors and other key appointees. Eighteen of the Senate's 21 members have already signed onto the bill.

Despite the Senate's enthusiasm for this legislation, there are a number of problems with the plan. The most obvious defect is that it doesn't make sense for a part-time Legislature, which meets for just four months every two years, to have this authority. That means any appointments the governor would make would have to be on an interim basis if the Legislature wasn't in session, since they could only be confirmed once the Legislature is meeting.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, notes that the U.S. Senate has confirmation powers -- but that hardly is a ringing endorsement. As we've seen in Washington, D.C., some senators abuse their power. They occasionally ignore how qualified the individual is and delay or reject appointments for either petty personal or partisan reasons or squabbles they have with administration policies.

Rhoads himself presents a novel argument, suggesting a share-the-blame philosophy that runs counter to the virtue of responsibility. "If I were governor, I would want my appointments scrutinized. If one of them screws up, it's not just my fault, I wasn't the only person who approved it," Rhoads said. But this is exactly the opposite of what Nevadans have come to expect from their chief executives. They want someone to take charge and be held accountable.

The Legislature is meeting for the first time since voters imposed a 120-day limit on legislative sessions. Past sessions typically have dragged past 160 days because legislators couldn't summon the discipline to get their work done on time. Now is not the time for the Legislature to start casting about for other tasks. It should spend more time worrying about how to get everything done under its current responsibilities instead of looking for ways to create mischief with the executive branch. Maybe after the Legislature shows that it can take care of the people's business on time for a few sessions it can then entertain seriously the idea of approving key gubernatorial appointees. Until then it should leave well enough alone.

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