THE EIGHTEENTH DAY
Carson City(Thursday), February 18, 1999
Senate called to order at 4:29 p.m.
President Hunt presiding.
Roll called.
All present.
Prayer by the Chaplain, Lieutenant John Van Cleef.
Heavenly Father, we come before You today and ask that You guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of Nevada, and who have been ordained by You to govern this state. Grant them Your wisdom to rule, and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your will. In Your Holy Name, I pray.
Amen.
Pledge of allegiance to the Flag.
Senator Raggio moved that further reading of the Journal be dispensed with, and the President and Secretary be authorized to make the necessary corrections and additions.
Motion carried.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
Madam President:
Your Committee on Human Resources and Facilities, to which was referred Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 2, has had the same under consideration, and begs leave to report the same back with the recommendation: Be adopted.
Raymond D. Rawson, Chairman
Madam President:
Your Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operations, to which was referred Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 1, has had the same under consideration, and begs leave to report the same back with the recommendation: Amend, and be adopted as amended.
Jon C. Porter, Chairman
Madam President:
Your Committee on Natural Resources, to which was referred Senate Joint Resolution No. 2, has had the same under consideration, and begs leave to report the same back with the recommendation: Do pass.
Dean A. Rhoads, Chairman
MESSAGES FROM THE ASSEMBLY
Assembly Chamber, Carson City, February 17, 1999
To the Honorable the Senate:
I have the honor to inform your honorable body that the Assembly on this day passed Assembly Bills Nos. 93, 128, 129.
Susan Furlong Reil
MOTIONS, RESOLUTIONS AND NOTICES
By Senator O’Connell:
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 11—Expressing support for efforts in the State of Nevada to develop more effective suicide prevention programs.
Senator O’Connell moved that the resolution be referred to the Committee on Human Resources and Facilities.
Motion carried.
INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING AND REFERENCE
By the Committee on Judiciary:
Senate Bill No. 212—AN ACT relating to writs of garnishment; authorizing a licensed process server to serve a writ of garnishment; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator O’Connell moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Motion carried.
By Senator O’Connell:
Senate Bill No. 213—AN ACT relating to education; requiring the boards of trustees of school districts to provide certain educational services under certain circumstances to children in private schools, charter schools and home schools; requiring the boards of trustees of school districts to provide certain programs of special education and related services to children who receive instruction at home; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator O’Connell moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Human Resources and Facilities.
Motion carried.
By the Committee on Government Affairs:
Senate Bill No. 214—AN ACT relating to state financial administration; prohibiting the consideration of any unobligated money of a school district as a revenue source in the preparation of the state budget; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator O’Connell moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Motion carried.
By the Committee on Government Affairs:
Senate Bill No. 215—AN ACT relating to the City of Sparks; making various changes to the charter of the City of Sparks; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator O’Connell moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Government Affairs.
Motion carried.
By the Committee on Government Affairs:
Senate Bill No. 216—AN ACT relating to the regulation of construction; revising provisions governing the issuance of building permits to require political subdivisions in certain counties to pay the fee for the issuance of such permits; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator O’Connell moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Government Affairs.
Motion carried.
By the Committee on Government Affairs:
Senate Bill No. 217—AN ACT relating to counties; authorizing each board of county commissioners by ordinance to establish, use and operate a wetlands mitigation bank; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator O’Connell moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Government Affairs.
Motion carried.
By Senator Schneider (by request):
Senate Bill No. 218—AN ACT relating to professions; revising the definition of “practice of marriage and family therapy”; authorizing the board of examiners for marriage and family therapists to issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of books and papers; increasing the fee for the examination of an applicant for a license as a marriage and family therapist; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator Schneider moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor.
Motion carried.
By Senators Coffin and Townsend:
Senate Bill No. 219—AN ACT relating to physicians; authorizing the board of medical examiners to issue a limited license to practice medicine in this state under certain circumstances to physicians who are licensed in certain other jurisdictions; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator Townsend moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor.
Motion carried.
By the Committee on Commerce and Labor:
Senate Bill No. 220—AN ACT relating to professions; creating the board of professional management consultants; prescribing the duties and powers of the board; requiring a professional management consultant to be registered with or licensed by the board; prescribing the requirements for such registration and licensure; providing a penalty; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator Townsend moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor.
Motion carried.
By Senator Porter:
Senate Bill No. 221—AN ACT relating to taxes on retail sales; providing for the submission to the voters of the question whether the Sales and Use Tax Act of 1955 should be amended to provide an exemption from the tax for funeral supplies; contingently creating the same exemption from certain analogous taxes; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator Porter moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Taxation.
Motion carried.
By Senator O’Connell:
Senate Bill No. 222—AN ACT relating to electric utilities; revising the provisions governing the recovery of certain costs by a vertically integrated electric utility or an electric distribution utility; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator O’Connell moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor.
Motion carried.
Assembly Bill No. 93.
Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Government Affairs.
Motion carried.
Assembly Bill No. 128.
Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Government Affairs.
Motion carried.
Assembly Bill No. 129.
Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Government Affairs.
Motion carried.
GENERAL FILE AND THIRD READING
Senate Bill No. 27.
Bill read third time.
Remarks by Senators Neal and Townsend.
Roll call on Senate Bill No. 27:
Yeas—21.
Nays—None.
Senate Bill No. 27 having received a constitutional majority, Madam President declared it passed, as amended.
Bill ordered transmitted to the Assembly.
Senate Bill No. 130.
Bill read third time.
Remarks by Senators Townsend, O’Donnell, Carlton and James.
Senator Townsend disclosed that his wife is a licensed realtor.
Senator O’Donnell disclosed that he and his wife are licensed realtors.
Roll call on Senate Bill No. 130:
Yeas—17.
Nays—Mathews, Neal—2.
Not Voting—O’Connell, O’Donnell—2.
Senate Bill No. 130 having received a constitutional majority, Madam President declared it passed, as amended.
Bill ordered transmitted to the Assembly.
Senate Joint Resolution No. 1.
Bill read third time.
Remarks by Senators Rhoads, Titus and Neal.
Senator Titus requested that her remarks be entered in the Journal.
Thank you, Madam President. I rise in opposition to Senate Joint Resolution No. 1 which advocates accepting public land as settlement for in-lieu-of-payments owed to us by the Federal Government. According to the “Payment in Lieu of Taxes Act” passed in 1976, these payments, made to counties to offset the loss of property tax, are intended to support essential governmental services, including maintenance of records, police and fire protection, search and rescue, land use planning, road construction and schools, among others.
While I agree that it certainly would be desirable to gain control over some of the land currently held by the Federal Government in Nevada, the approach taken in this resolution is the wrong way to go about it. Trading dollars for land and thereby letting the Federal Government off the hook for the hard cash it owes us would be economically unwise.
Even land assessed at high value does not always readily translate into currency. This is especially true in some of our counties when the economy, generally, and the real estate market, specifically, are depressed. Remember, county-owned land generates no more in tax revenues than federally-controlled land. Indeed, we have all heard the expression, “land rich and cash poor.” In short, land won’t renovate schools or operate rural hospitals; it won’t pay policemen and firemen; and it won’t provide for indigent healthcare.
A better approach, it seems to me, would be to reject this resolution and instead send a different message to Congress. We should be asking Congress not to give us land in lieu of in-lieu-of-payments, which Congress is not likely to do anyway, but rather to use some of the national surplus to settle their debt, pay us what they owe us and meet their obligation to relieve the financial burden first imposed on our counties 135 years ago when the founding fathers of Nevada traded away our land for statehood.
Roll call on Senate Joint Resolution No. 1:
Yeas—20.
Nays—None.
Not Voting—Titus.
Senate Joint Resolution No. 1 having received a constitutional majority, Madam President declared it passed.
Resolution ordered transmitted to the Assembly.
The Sergeant at Arms announced that Assemblyman de Braga and Assemblywoman Von Tobel were at the bar of the Senate. Assemblyman de Braga invited the Senate to meet in Joint Session with the Assembly to hear an address by Representative James A. Gibbons.
Madam President announced that if there were no objections, the Senate would recess subject to the call of the Chair.
Senate in recess at 5:02 p.m.
IN JOINT SESSION
At 5:04 p.m.
President Hunt presiding.
The Secretary of the Senate called the Senate roll.
All present except Senator Townsend, who was excused.
The Chief Clerk of the Assembly called the Assembly roll.
All present except Assemblymen Arberry, Buckley, Dini, Humke, Marvel and Williams, who were excused.
Madam President appointed a Committee on Escort consisting of Senator James and Assemblywoman Gibbons to wait upon the Honorable James A. Gibbons and escort him to the Assembly Chamber.
Representative Gibbons delivered his message as follows:
Message to the Legislature of Nevada
Seventieth Session, 1999
Thank you very much.
Speaker Pro Tempore Evans, Lieutenant Governor Hunt, Governor Guinn, Senator Raggio, Senator Titus, Assemblyman Perkins and Assemblyman Hettrick, members of the Legislature, justices of the Supreme Court, constitutional officers, fellow Nevadans and friends.
Let me first say that it is an honor for me to be here tonight. As you can imagine, this is a special night for me because my wife, Dawn, is here in the audience as your colleague, to share this moment with me. I am very proud of Dawn and the strong commitment she has made to her constituents and the citizens she represents.
And to all of you friends, legislators and dedicated public servants, Nevada is so very honored and fortunate to have your dedication and commitment as well. No one here doubts that public service is very demanding, time consuming and often devoid of the thanks from the public you serve. So, we have a good idea about what kind of lives we all lead. That is, unless your spouse is also in politics and then it seems that your life is being directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
You may not believe this, but so far, my legislative career has been a blessing—a blessing mostly because of you, the people who I have had the distinct pleasure and honor of working for and serving with. Many of you are here tonight, and I thank you.
Whether you are a radio station owner from Fallon, a rancher from Elko, a teacher from Las Vegas or, in the case of our Speaker, a casino owner in Yerington, our political careers may have taken each of us on different paths; but we all share a common bond. Each man and woman in this chamber—no matter how long we may serve in the legislature, no matter how long we may serve in Congress, no matter how long we live on earth—we have just one obligation and that is to make a difference. And how we make that difference will most likely be affected, either directly or indirectly, by the challenges we each face, whether here in Carson City or in Washington D.C.
Without a doubt, our Nevada Congressional Delegation faces some tough battles this session, and because there are enormous challenges for our bipartisan delegation, we must all pull together and fight for our state.
For the sake of Nevada’s hard working families, we must continue to pull together and work on a common agenda—fighting on issues like nuclear waste, gaming, mining, ranching, farming, education, social security, health care, national defense and veterans’ issues. Trust me, I am not going to talk about all of those tonight. You will be making it home sometime before midnight.
I last addressed the Nevada Legislature in 1997, and I began my speech by discussing one of our most important issues, education.
One of the greatest recent debates that has taken place in Washington D.C. concerns our education dollars and how they can be most effectively and efficiently spent.
Should your money be left in the pockets of Washington bureaucrats? Or should your money come back here directly to Nevada, to classrooms to help our children and their teachers? Should every important decision be left to the red-tape bureaucrats in Washington to develop the plan to educate our children in our schools in Nevada? Or should our parents, our teachers and our local school board—and you, ladies and gentleman—develop that plan?
Let me tell you a brief, personal story about education because I can tell you firsthand that a vast majority of our schools here in Nevada are doing a great job and should be commended.
Two years ago, Dawn and I decided to take our youngest son, Jimmy, to Washington and place him in a local school. He was zoned into a magnet school with 1000 other kids. They spoke 66 different languages in this school and when they posted a notice on a school bulletin board it was in 29 different languages. We found ourselves spending four to six hours every evening with our son, trying to keep him up to speed with the academic level he had when he left Nevada. They had no tests, no homework and the teachers were unable to communicate to all these children. They did not have a great education like Jimmy had in Nevada. It was because of the great schools we have in Nevada that the decision to bring Jimmy and Dawn back here became our number one decision. Let me say to the good schools we left here Nevada: thank you and we are back home. So, in my opinion—and unarguably, the biggest and best investment we can make as a nation—is in the proper education of our children.
I was honored and pleased to have been at the Governor’s State of the State. Governor, thank you. I believe the Governor got it and was exactly on point, when he said that the education of our children, today, will determine our nation’s place in the world, tomorrow. I applaud your vision of the “Millennium Scholarships” and your continued dedication and commitment to Nevada’s young people.
I do envision a national goal on education—a goal that offers every child the best education in the world. A goal that puts you in the driver’s seat; a program that lets you—the parents, teachers, schools, and communities in Nevada—accomplish that goal by reaching a higher standard of learning on your own terms!
The legislative specialists in education are right here, this evening, in this room. We have the guidance of leaders like Senator Bill Raggio, Senator Ray Rawson and Assemblymen Bernie Anderson and Wendell Williams. There are other people here in this audience, as well, who offer and provide their leadership and guidance on our local school boards and in our classrooms. On behalf of my children and all Nevada children, thank you for your strong commitment to provide Nevada’s children with a great system of education. And let me say thanks to Nevada’s teachers, who are on the educational front-lines every day, who are caught between federal government mandates and tight budget restraints, and yet manage to give our kids a great education.
Just a couple of weeks ago, I had the great opportunity and privilege of visiting some of our teachers and students at several of our schools in Dayton, Reno, Incline Village and Sparks, to discuss the issues that are important to them. I met with many students and talked to them personally about their desires and their ambitions after graduation. Every one of them was reaching for that star. Reflecting back on each of those wonderful kids, I thought that it is not a disaster to reach for that star and come up short; but it is a disaster not to have a star to reach for. Our schools and our teachers are helping to put those stars out there for our kids. We should listen closely to their concerns and suggestions. Their concerns were overwhelmingly consistent: we need more resources, money and more control. And I couldn’t agree more. Whether it’s a new roof, new books, more teachers, more classrooms or even more chalk, we must ensure that these determinations are made in our classrooms, not 2600 miles away in Washington, D.C. by somebody who refers to us as “Ne-vah-dans.” If we can say that the education of our children is the saving grace for our state, then I think it’s safe to say that a proposal to ship high-level nuclear waste to Nevada is our clear and present danger.
You all know the story.
There are 49 states who want to place the most dangerous, toxic substance known to man in our back yard. It is an area that is clearly not scientifically suited for such a purpose.
The occurrence of several earthquakes near the proposed storage area last month strengthened our scientific arguments that there are numerous inherent dangers in storing nuclear waste in southern Nevada.
Let me take this opportunity to commend Governor Guinn and my colleagues in our bipartisan congressional delegation and all the leaders here in this room for their hard work and leadership in the fight against nuclear waste.
This is an issue that we have vowed to oppose with all our strength. And thank all of you, especially Senator James and Assemblyman Perkins, for the overwhelming vote to send that recent joint resolution to us on nuclear waste. It gave a clear message to Congress that none of us are going to stand idly by while they try to cram this thing down our throats. No, we—and I mean all of us in this room—will not be silenced. We will continue to fight until they get the message.
Just two days ago, the Governor held a critical, bipartisan Nuclear Waste Summit demonstrating our unity and our common desire to work together at all levels of government to stop the threat of nuclear waste shipments, not just through our communities in Nevada but nationwide. I believe when one of these communities nationwide has an accident with nuclear waste and someone gets hurt, they will realize it is not just Nevada which is at risk.
For a state that boasts the beauty of Lake Tahoe, the Red Rock Canyon, the Toiyabe National Forest and the Ruby Mountains, we must never toast the beast of a nuclear waste dump.
I have a message for the powerful nuclear industry lobbyist in Washington, D.C.: Nevada will never give in, and we will never back down in our opposition to nuclear waste.
I have been talking quite a bit about nuclear waste and how we as Nevadans share common concerns about our safety, our environment and our economy. Let’s look for a moment at the topic of our economy.
Nevadans are very fortunate to have someone like Lieutenant Governor Lorraine Hunt leading our state’s economic development and tourism efforts. She has the vision, the energy, the leadership, the charm and the innovation necessary to meet Governor Guinn’s challenge of a stronger commitment to economic development and diversification in Nevada.
As we all know, one of the best ways to attract business to Nevada is to keep government intervention to a minimum. I am proud of our leaders in Nevada, like Senator Randolph Townsend and Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, who are taking the lead on issues to make Nevada a better place to do business. I know Barbara Buckley isn’t here, but I want to thank her for what she’s done to protect Nevadans’ health care. We’re looking in Congress to use her model as a reform for the nation’s health care problems. Also, I want to further congratulate her and her husband on their recent announcement of a new child to be arriving later this year. Her efforts here as a legislator, wife and soon-to-be mother give other young working moms a great role model to follow. Women—they can do so much and so many wonderful things, all at the same time. Our legislature is becoming, I think, closer to the make-up of our population. We are now only second to Washington State in total numbers of women legislators. Guys, the writing is on the wall. The days of the good ol’ boys are gone.
During my second term in Washington, our efforts will be to protect Nevada’s primary industries such as ranching, mining and gaming; and it will also consist of keeping a close eye on the federally-appointed National Gambling Impact Study Commission. As many of you know, this controversial commission will be wrapping up its two-year study on the nation’s gaming industry. For the better part of those two years, we have closely monitored every meeting and hearing they have held around our nation. Now, in June, the federal commission will issue its findings and report to the President and Congress. I’m sure you’ll agree that any decisions about our gaming that are to be made should be made by Nevadans and Nevada’s own Gaming Commission with common sense people like former state Senator Sue Wagner and Brian Sandoval and not, as I’ve heard, some “pencil-neck geek” in Washington.
It is my hope that the full commission will not fall victim to those who would paint a negative image of our successful gaming/entertainment industry. Nevadans are very fortunate to have two highly respected members on this commission—great Nevadans like Bill Bible and Terry Lanni. They have done an outstanding job on this commission, and their distinguished service will help ensure that this report is not biased against the gaming industry. No one doubts that there are some politicians in Washington who would try to use this report against the industry. I want to assure you I will forcefully fight any attempts to tax or regulate the gaming industry on the federal level. That is a state issue.
Let me say that same enthusiasm goes for our mining industry as well. Along with Senators Harry Reid and Richard Bryan, we have fought diligently and stood steadfast in our commitment to the mining industry and its support services. With mining being the second largest industry in our state, it becomes imperative that we work together to defeat the Administration’s proposals, such as repealing the percentage depletion tax allowance or the creation of unnecessary and burdensome regulations or new tax legislation that would essentially end mining in Nevada as we know it.
In an effort to generate across-the-board support for these important mining issues, I have reinstituted the bipartisan Congressional Mining Caucus which was originally started by my predecessor, Barbara Vucanovich. The Congressional Mining Caucus was established to educate members on regulatory and legislative ideas and how they impact the mining industry. We want to establish a strong presence for mining in Congress, one that not only supports the mining industry, but also suppliers, mining equipment manufacturers and support services members. This caucus will serve as an educational and informational resource center for all the members of Congress, and it will provide a much-needed forum to address the present and future needs of the U.S. mining industry.
And our final goal is to promote policies that balance our economic, political and environmental concerns. We must care for the public resources, and we must care for the public lands that make up our great state.
Last Monday evening, you heard Senator Reid share with you our joints efforts to create the Nevada Lands Bill. This legislation will change the landscape on how Nevada deals with federal bureaucracies on public lands issues. For the first time our rural communities will be allowed to identify and make available for sale, specific lands needed by northern Nevada cities and towns for growth and economic development cities like Wendover, Elko, Winnemucca and Tonopah.
These cities, today, and many other rural Nevada communities are suffering because they do not have the land to grow, nor do they have the tax base from private property to adequately fund their schools, police and fire protection, judicial system, roads or even basic health care services. Well, that is all about to change. With your help, we will forever change the landscape of Nevada.
I want to take just a minute or two to talk about our armed forces this evening. As we look to protect our state’s economic interest, we must also pay attention to protecting our country’s national security. You all know of my commitment to strengthening our national defense has never been higher. Providing our young men and women in the military with the very best training and equipment is paramount on all our minds. When they are called upon, we can all be assured they can do their job and, more importantly, return home safely. I have the distinct experience and distinct privilege of seeing both sides of the coin. Having served in the military and now in Congress, I know firsthand the real commitment that it takes to defend our nation. As a member of both the House Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, I see firsthand the rings and flaming hoops that we must jump through to find the necessary funding for our military men and women so that our servicemen and women at Nellis, Fallon and Hawthorne have the resources to do their jobs.
One national security issue that hits home is terrorism. According to a recent press report, Hoover Dam is the third most likely strategic target in a nuclear or biological attack. Ladies and gentlemen, if you haven’t thought of it before, that puts Nevada’s largest and most populated community, Las Vegas, right at the center of the “bulls-eye.” I am committed to protecting that “bulls-eye” from whatever threat may arise. As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I will work to see that our intelligence agencies have the resources to identify any hostile military or terrorist intentions and to prevent any such event from ever occurring.
Nevada’s contribution to this nation’s defense and military strength also includes the research and fine work developed at the Nevada Test Site. Let me also point out my appreciation to Secretary Bill Richardson and the Department of Energy for their plans to maintain the Nevada Test Site in a state of readiness. It is imperative that we preserve our nation’s role as a world leader—with the solid commitment to the stockpile stewardship and the testing program at the Nevada Test Site, we can be assured this nation will remain the number one leader in the world.
We live in a wonderful state, in many ways in a wonderful time, with many great people who have given and sacrificed a great deal so that we may have brighter future. Let me take a moment to tell you about a friend named Ron Garside, who has made many sacrifices to make our lives worth living.
You see, my friend joined the army when he was 21. He joined the Rangers and was immediately sent off to fight in Vietnam. While there, he was wounded three times by enemy grenades and mortar shells. After recovering from his wounds and undaunted by the experience, he returned to Vietnam three years later for his second tour of duty. Shortly after his return, he was again wounded when one of his fellow soldiers stepped on a land mine. Six months later, back on the line, he was wounded again during a nighttime attack by the Viet Cong. Sadly, rather than receiving a hero’s welcome when Ron Garside returned home, he was greeted by angry crowds of antiwar demonstrators. Despite his physical injuries, Ron continued to serve the public for another 17 years as a law enforcement officer with the Department of Prisons. He has done far more that just serve his country, his state and family; he has helped build a better future for you, for me and for all our children. So tonight, I ask you to join me to give a hero’s welcome to a brave Nevadan, a man of distinction and a distinguished legend of valor with five Purple Hearts, Two Bronze Stars, Two Air Medals, the Combat Infantry Badge and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Mr. Ron Garside.
Like Ron and many others in this room who have served this county, our nation’s veterans deserve more than just our recognition. They have earned the care and attention that our nation promised them. As a newly-appointed member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I will work hard to protect the benefits that my fellow veterans have justly earned and deserve. Our nation’s servicemen and women deserve the highest quality of health care. No veteran should have to wait six months just to see a doctor. No veteran should be denied medical care for any health problems that arise out of their service. Furthermore, we must change the law to permit, rather than deny, career military veterans the right to receive disability compensation and military retired pay without an offset. Many of you here tonight, like Senators Jon Porter and, of course, Lawrence Jacobsen, have fought to locate a veterans’ home in southern Nevada, and it is my hope that someday soon we will be able to provide a similar home to our northern Nevadan veterans as well.
The issues I have addressed with you tonight are important to us all as Nevadans. Of course, accomplishing these goals will require courage; yet, it is our duty to demonstrate our grit and our fortitude and just get the job done. Nevadans have a lot to be proud of, and I am certainly proud to be a Nevadan. And I am even more thankful that I am part of this extraordinary and unique state that has so much to offer. I ask that you join with me in working toward our common goals—not just as politicians and legislators, but as colleagues, and neighbors and most importantly as Nevadans.
I would like to close my remarks tonight in honor and tribute to two wonderful people who have spent a lifetime in service to this nation and to this state, Richard and Bonnie Bryan. Both Richard and Bonnie have been leading the way on important issues in this state for decades, whether here in the Assembly, or as the attorney general, or governor or as a U.S. senator. This state and all of us owe them a great deal of gratitude and thanks for their service. I look forward to working with him in the next two years on even greater and bigger things making Nevada a brighter place to live.
And finally, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here tonight. I wish each of you well in this, the 70th Legislative Session of Nevada. Remember, together, we can make a difference. Thank you and God bless each and every one of you as you work to build a better and brighter future for all Nevadans.
Senator O’Connell moved that the Senate and Assembly in Joint Session extend a vote of thanks to Representative Gibbons for his message.
Motion carried.
The Committee on Escort escorted Representative Gibbons to the bar of the Assembly.
Senator Amodei moved that the Joint Session be dissolved.
Motion carried.
Joint Session dissolved at 5:44 p.m.
SENATE IN SESSION
At 5:50 p.m.
President Hunt presiding.
Quorum present.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Signing of Bills and Resolutions
There being no objections, the President and Secretary signed Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 18.
GUESTS EXTENDED PRIVILEGE OF SENATE FLOOR
On request of President Hunt, the privilege of the floor of the Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Sasha Thurman and Sharon Thurman.
Senator Raggio moved that the Senate adjourn until Friday, February 19, 1999 at 10:30 a.m.
Motion carried.
Senate adjourned at 5:51 p.m.
Approved: Lorraine T. Hunt
President of the Senate
Attest: Janice L. Thomas