Representatives learn about tax proposals at Chamber Legislative Day

Two members of the Carson City Area Chamber of Commerce sat in session with legislators Wednesday during Chamber Legislative Day.

"This is a chance for our volunteers to get a better flavor of what goes on and to see what happens inside the Legislature," said Larry Osborne, chief executive officer of the chamber.

Chamber board member and director of marketing for Carson-Tahoe Hospital Richard Linkul sat with Assemblyman Ron Knecht, R-Carson City, while Steve Reynolds, chamber chairman and general manager of Sign Pro, sat with Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville.

Others from the 1,000-member Carson chamber arrived throughout the day for a luncheon and tours. Representatives of the Reno-Sparks, Sparks and Hispanic chambers also attended.

"We're here to learn as much as we can about the Legislature so we can bring that back to our members," said Leslie A. Mix of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Northern Nevada.

Wednesday's Legislative open house was more of an opportunity to learn than to lobby for change, according to Osborne.

"We don't expect there to be some big revelation," he said. "This is more an opportunity for observation."

Gov. Kenny Guinn spoke to the chamber representatives at a luncheon.

"Usually what happens with this group is I give them an update on where we are with bills etc.," he said.

His press secretary, Greg Bortolin, passed out a fact sheet outlining "The Nevada Challenge" of being the fastest-growing state in the nation and another comparing the tax plans of Western states.

"We certainly owe them all that when we're talking about additional dollars," Guinn said.

Reynolds was one of several chamber representatives who listed Guinn's proposed gross receipts tax as a concern.

"Our members tell us that the gross receipts tax would be extremely hurtful to businesses and business growth in the state of Nevada," he said.

He was pleased with a new tax proposal put forward by the assemblyman he was teamed up with for the floor session.

"Hettrick's proposing that we may not need the $900 million (Guinn is proposing) in order to take care of the needs of the state," Reynolds said. "Lynn has shown that perhaps we only need $600 million and has shown a plan that might get us there without the gross receipts tax. I see quite a few things in this plan I believe Carson City business people could support."

Guinn said earlier the chambers' rejection of the gross receipts tax is at least partially based on an incomplete understanding of how the tax would affect businesses.

"There's thousands of different businesses and they all have a little different nuance," he said.