Reid says he will work to protect lands act funding

In a speech that lasted just 11 minutes, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told the Nevada Legislature on Wednesday he will work to keep money from the sale of federal lands in Nevada from being spent outside the state.

That drew applause from Democrats and Republicans alike.

But the applause quickly became much more partisan as Reid repeated his opposition to President Bush's attempts to privatize Social Security and almost disappeared as he urged lawmakers to enact voter registration reform before Congress does it for the states.

Southern Nevada Land Act sales have brought hundreds of millions of dollars to the state. That money is used in education, on environmental, conservation and other projects including the preservation of Lake Tahoe.

"Unfortunately, President Bush wants to take that money from Nevada and hand it to the federal government," said Reid.

"It should stay here, and the Nevada congressional delegation is working to prevent the Bush administration from stealing this money."

Nevada Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said Republicans also support the congressional delegation's efforts to keep the money in Nevada.

"I called Karl Rove yesterday and talked with him and emphasized how important this issue was," Raggio said.

But the applause was much more partisan as Reid urged lawmakers to pass an increase in the minimum wage as called for by Nevada voters last year.

"Minimum wage is decades behind the cost of living. Don't make families wait another two years," he said. If Nevada lawmakers don't raise the wage this session, it will go back to voters in 2006.

Most Republicans also sat quietly as Reid challenged Bush's claim Social Security is in crisis and must be privatized.

"The Academy Awards are this Sunday night, and if they gave an Oscar for 'crisis creation,' I'm certain the Bush White House would win in a landslide," Reid joked.

He said if nothing is done to the system, everyone will get full benefits for nearly 50 years before any cuts are necessary.

He said long-term, bipartisan reform, not privatization, is what's needed.

"I want to work with the president to address Social Security's long-term challenges, but a crisis it is not," he said.

During a press conference afterward, Reid said many Republicans "want to destroy Social Security," and that is what the president's plan would do.

"They've been after it for 40 years," he said.

Raggio said many Republicans disagree with Reid.

"I think there is a need to address it and soon, not to put it off," he said. "It's more of a crisis than the Democrats want to acknowledge."

There was little applause for Reid's call to enact changes in voter registration. He said with modern technology, there is no reason to close registration a full month before each election.

"This is about giving Nevadans a voice in our government, and that is something we should all be able to work and agree on," he said.

Reid said afterward he believes in same-day registration.

He said he is also working on legislation that will make sure Nevada has the power to regulate how many out-of-state hunters and fishermen are licensed in the state. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled recently states must allow nonresidents the same access as residents.

"It is Nevadans who work to protect fish and game here. It is Nevadans who support wildlife conservation through their work and taxes. And it is Nevadans who should set limits on who hunts and fishes within our boundaries."

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., will appear before a joint Legislative session at 5 tonight.

n Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.