The Nevada Sagebrush

Photo Illustration by Tony Contini/Nevada Sagebrush: The narrowing of Democratic majorities in both houses of the Nevada State Legislature, as well as the election of Republican Brian Sandoval as governor, means big changes in the way things will be done in Carson City.

➤ In the Nevada State Assembly, Republicans gained two seats, putting the Republican total at 16, and the Democratic total at 26, according to the Nevada Secretary of State’s website. The loss of seats means the Democrats no longer hold a supermajority.
➤ In the Nevada State Senate, Republicans gained one seat, putting the Republican total at 10 and the Democratic total at 11.
➤ The slimmer majorities, as well as the election of Republican Brian Sandoval as governor, could mean more compromises on the part of the Democratic caucuses, said William Eubank, an associate political science professor at the University of Nevada, Reno.
➤ Because of the potential for forcing Democratic compromises, the Republicans may push for a more solid voting bloc.

Conservatives gained seats in the state Legislature last week, following a national trend to  narrow Democratic majorities in both houses and gridlock the body when it meets this winter.

The slimmer majorities could mean a loss of Democrats’ ability to override gubernatorial vetoes, which could force compromises on several issues, especially the state’s budget.

The state budget will be the most important issue in the upcoming legislative session, William Eubank, an associate political science professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, said. Many experts have said tax reform is necessary to meet the state’s projected budget shortfalls.

“Everything hinges on taxes,” Eubank said.

Though the budget is the most prevalent issue before the Legislature, others will face lawmakers in the coming months, said Anjeanette Damon, a political reporter for the Las Vegas Sun and temporary journalism faculty member at UNR.

Among those issues are the way primary elections are conducted, renewable energy development, education reform and the redrawing of Nevada’s congressional districts. However, such issues will likely take a back seat to budget-related concerns.

“The budget will pretty much consume everything,” Damon said.

Carson City

While the election of Republican Brian Sandoval as governor means a stronger conservative agenda than if Rory Reid had been elected, the retention of Democratic majorities will likely force compromises between the governor and Legislature, Eubank said.

“The Democrats can’t get what they want, because the governor will veto it, and the governor can’t get anything through because the Democrats won’t pass it,” he said.

The development of a solid Republican voting bloc following the loss of a veto-proof majority in the Assembly could add to Democratic woes, Damon said.

“Now, (Republicans) can really make a difference, so they have an incentive to vote cohesively,” she said.

The Senate’s Republican Caucus unification and shift to the right was illustrated by the ousting of veteran leader William Raggio, Eubank said.

Such consolidation could mean less willingness to compromise on the part of Republicans, said Democratic Senator Sheila Leslie.

“They’re emboldened now, by the success of some of the national (conservative) candidates in this election,” Leslie said.

Republican Assemblyman John Hambrick said he hopes the loss of majority will lead to Democrats coming together to compromise with Republicans. Those compromises, as well as a good relationship between Sandoval and the Legislature as a whole, will mean efficiency in dealing with important issues, he said.

Higher education

The changes in Carson City and the compromises they may force will put Nevada’s higher education at risk of fiscal cuts.

“Higher education is always a candidate at risk (of cuts) when the Legislature meets,” Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Dan Klaich said.

Though higher education may find itself in the middle of a compromise between battling legislators, Klaich said that is no different than what’s happened in years past.

“Given that you need a two-thirds majority to change the tax structure or override a veto, I don’t know that (the slimmer Democratic majorities) mean that much, to be honest,” he said. “In the Senate, for example, it doesn’t matter if it’s 12-9 or 11-10 because the perfect number is still 14.”

The membership of NSHE’s Board of Regents is largely the same as the one that faced the last biennial session. Their experience with the legislature could help the system present a united front to lawmakers looking to cut its budget.

“What matters is having a strong and cohesive board behind a legislative agenda, and that’s what we have,” Klaich said.

Jason Geddes, the regent representing UNR’s district, said that besides funding, NSHE will seek two measures from the Legislature this session — keeping tuition and fees on campus and establishing a higher education “rainy day” fund.

Tuition and fees are sent to the state’s general fund and partially given back to NSHE campuses. Geddes said NSHE will ask the Legislature — much of which has stated support for such a measure — for fees to be kept on campus.

Fee retention would give the university more incentive to recruit students, said Marc Johnson, UNR’s provost. Under such a system, recruitment efforts would likely be expanded nationally.

The establishment of a rainy day fund would be accomplished by NSHE retaining unused monies at the end of its fiscal year.

The fund would help NSHE weather any future economic situations better in the future, Geddes said.

Ben Miller and Jay Balagna can be reached at news@nevadasagebrush.com.

Related Posts:

• Tuition could rise next year
• NSHE hires official voice
• School icon leaves office
• Leaders ready legislative strategies
• Candidates propose higher tuition, campus consolidation