Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 19

Reno Gazette-Journal Friday, October 27, 1989 3B Miller says special session could solve pension problem By Mlkt NorrtftQMtouinai Gov. Bob Miller opened the door Thursday to a possible special session of the Legislature to resolve questions about a controversial 300 percent pension increase legislators voted themselves last June. While not specifically saying he would convene the 63-member body in Carson City, he hinted in an interview that he believes a special session may be the only recourse to resolving the thorny issue. The Democratic governor said the debate over the retirement program revived this week when Assembly Democrats called for a special session to repeal it has drifted from the fundamental issue. 'i think there's a lot of rhetoric here that is obviating the real question what is best for the state? What't the best way of getting rid of this bad law?" The 44-year-old governor, who is completing the term of former Gov.

Richard Bryan, elected to the Senate last fall, said an important part of his decision on whether to hold the special session is based on an opinion issued Wednesday by Lome Malkiew ich. lawmakers' top attorney. The opinion is currently being reviewed by Miller's own legal adviser. Malkiewich said that if the Legislature-related provisions of the pension law, Assembly Bill 820, are repealed before November 9M elections, lawmakers probably will not be eligible to receive the increased (and) I believe most people will want this bad law removed." The governor did not set a definite timetable for an announcement, but he added: "This questions needs to be resolved, hopefully before the end of the year." Meanwhile, Nevada Attorney General Brian McKay is preparing an opinion, requested by the Nevada Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), on the legality of the law. Miller said he planned to consider the attorney general's opinion in his decision.

Meanwhile, Nevada Democrats and Republicans continued to trade charges over which party was trying to squeeze the greatest political advantage or achieve the least political loss out of efforts to resolve the pension controversy. Republican leaders said the presence of political strategists at Las Vegas meetings of Democratic legislators this week proves calls for a special session to repeal the pension increase are based solely on party self-interest. But Assembly Democrats, who called Wednesday for the special session, asserted Republicans held their own strategy session earlier in the month and had their own political game plan in mind. Influential political strategists attended one of at benefits, regardless of whether they are retired or vested. "The real critical question is related to Lome Mal-kiewich's opinion, which infers that if the law is not corrected before WM elections, all these people will be vested and receive these inflated sums," he said.

Because the Legislature is not scheduled to meet until January Ml, the only way the law could be removed before that time would be to hold a special session. The measure, passed 42-0 by the Assembly and 16-4 by the Senate, raises benefits for lawmakers with 10 fears of service from $25 a month to $100 a month, 'ayments begin at age 65. Republicans say Democrats, who have conceded the pension increase was an error, only want to use a special session to retain the 30-12 majority they hold in the Assembly. Miller said he had not decided whether to hold a special session. But he stressed his opposition to the law which he vetoed in June only to have the veto rejected by the Legislature and the need to have it repealed.

Asked if he was implying he would convene the Legislature, he said: "I don't want to imply anything except that I've always said this is a bad law least three meetings held by Democrats in Las Vegas on Monday. They included Billy Vassiliadias and Kent Oram, high-profile political advisers, and gaming lobbyists Jim Joyce and Richard Bunker. The same meeting was attended by Assembly Speaker Joe Dini of Verington, Assemblymem Jack Jeffrey and Matt Ca Ulster, both of Las Vegas all Democrats and Gary Gray, executive director of the Assembly Democratic Caucus (ADC). Dini defended the session, conceding, as did other Democrats, that any special session would have at least a partial political motive. "As chairman of ADC, I have an obligation to develop my strategy for the upcoming election." "There is no question there are political or partisan considerations," said Assemblyman Bob Sader, IV Reno.

"It shouldn't be denied." But. Sader pointed out, both Democrats and Republicans voted for the pension increase last June. Other meetings with different constituencies were held later Monday, according to Sader, and the next day Sader and Callister announced a call to convene the Legislature in special session. "This solidifies my belief that this is solely to prevent the political fallout from the pension vote," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, Reno. Firms need child care service, expert says By Barbara AndersonOannioumi In today's tight labor market, whatever an employer can do to recruit and retain productive employees makes financial sense.

Providing child care for employees is one way to keep a work force, Truckee Meadows employers were told Thursday at an all-day child care conference at Harrah's. At least that's been the results of a 3-year America West employer-sponsored child care program. America West employees can leave their children with specially-trained baby-sitters in Phoenix, Tempe and Las Vegas. A 24 hour-a-day child-care center also is available in Tempe. Employees pay for the child care based on their incomes.

The airline subsidizes from 25 to 50 percent of child-care costs. "Has it paid off? You bet," said America West spokeswoman Lucy Tschogl, manager of the airline's child care program in Las Vegas. A recent employee survey showed 25 percent had applied for a position with the airline because of its child-care benefits. Another 75 percent said they stayed with the company because of the child care. "The survey verified the fact that this program is helping us recruit and retain productive employees," Tschogl said.

Washoe Medical Center has had similar results from opening a child-care center at the hospital in September, said Rod Callahan, general serv ices vice president. "Nurses are coming back from maternity leave earlier. Part-time employees are going to work full-time. And our hiring efforts have improved already," he said. Sponsors of the child-care conference said they wanted to give employers incentives to provide child-care benefits.

About 125 people attended the conference, including representatives from 10 casinos and five banks. "This conference got down to the nuts and bolts and the 'how-do' of employee-sponsored child-care," said Reno City Councilwoman Kathryn Wishart, who was the conference moderator. The conference at least brought child-eare benefits to the attention of area employers, said Jon Beng-ston, Sands Regent Hotel-Casino senior vice president. Thursday's conference was sponsored by the city of Reno, the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce, Reno Commission on the Status of Women. Northern Nevada Personnel Association, Soroptimist International of the Truckee Meadows.

United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra and the State Job Training Office. Officials: 2 kids probably not measles carriers HAPPY 25TH: Cmdy Nguyen, left, and Mi- Rta Cannan Elementary School in Sparks The chelie Washington, both 1 1 pass out cake Wed- event featured songs by the school choir, mtro-nesday night at the 25th anniversary party for ductions of past principals and a slide show. MGM's $130 million stock offering approved grams, said Thursday she doesn't believe either child contracted measles. While officials say the results of the tests are not yet available, the clearest evidence that their rashes were not caused by measles is the absence of any additional cases at either school. "Its long after the incubation period," she said.

"If there were more cases, we would be seeing them by now." Miron said even if tests show the children contracted the virus, there will be no orders excluding children who have not been properly vaccinated unless other measles cases occur. there have been eight confirmed cases of measles in Washoe County. Last week, a teen-age girl at Reno High School and a boy at Vaughn Middle School developed suspicious rashes, leading to concerns that a measles outbreak might be under way. Investigators discovered the girl worked in a Reno department store where an employee came down with the virus, and the little boy's mother and aunt worked in an insurance company office where there was another confirmed case. But Cindy Miron, coordinator of the county's immunization pro By Jim MltChellGajflJournal County health officials say they are conducting measles tests on two school children, but do not believe either child has contracted the disease.

Investigators at the Washoe District Health Department began monitoring for measles after outbreaks of the 10-day measles virus began occurring in other parts of the country. Ten-day, or rubeolla, measles produces a longer-lasting illness, but unlike the German measles strain it is not considered a threat to pregnant women. Over the past several months. a partial payment on the Marina hotel-casino. Acquisition of the two Las Vegas properties will provide Kerkorian with about 117 acres needed for the proposed $700 million theme park and hotel.

Kerkorian has said the resort, still in the planning stages, will be a family attraction aimed at drawing middle-class tourists when it opens sometime in late 1992. He's expected to spend about $250 million on the new hotel and another $450 million on the theme park, which will feature a working studio. Fred Benninger, MGM's chairman of the board, told the commission that the plans have received "tremendous support" from across the country. "It's going to be novel and unusual and it's predicated on serving the family," Benninger said. The offering approved by the commission represents a 23 percent increase over the level endorsed by the Gaming Control Board earlier this month.

CARSON CITY (AP) A $130 million-plus public offering, in part for a huge movieland resort that Kirk Kerkorian wants to build in Las Vegas, was approved Thursday by the Nevada Gaming Commission. The offering by MGM Grand Inc. will involve 8.5 million shares of common stock and reduce Ker-korian's control of MGM from 98 percent to 72 percent. Among other things, the proceeds will be used to acquire the Tropicana Country Club and make wZrJTZt iw fjVT i re Hill, Cassas, de Lipkau Erwin TO YOUR HEALTH! Here's what's cookin' today: Filet of Halibut. Sauteed Filet of Halibut crowned ith Lemon Every day, Nugget chefs prepare special entrees recommended for a healthy heart.

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