Nevada lawmaker criticizes closed-door meetings

State Sen. Joe Neal says he's worried that closed-door meetings by key lawmakers on taxes and spending may allow powerful Nevada gambling industry lobbyists to control the Legislature's decision-making process.

"It gives me pause to think that this process has been hijacked by the gamers in some way," the North Las Vegas Democrat said at Friday's floor session. "I'm very much concerned about that."

Neal questioned whether he and other members of the Senate Taxation Committee "are the committee that will be considering the tax matter, or has that somehow been deferred to another group that has not been appointed in the Legislature here."

He was assured by Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, that the meetings of about a dozen lawmakers are "not unusual, nor is it prohibited in any way."

"Noone in this group that is meeting are going to be making any final decisions," Raggio said. "Any tax bill obviously has to be decided by the appropriate committees."

The private, informal meetings are part of an effort to determine what differences remain between the two houses on tax proposals of up to $1 billion and a two-year state budget of up to $4.83 billion.

Lawmakers involved say that tax panels are unlikely to approve any comprehensive tax plan until the group has reached agreement.

"As is the case in every session since I've been in the Legislature, there are meetings between leadership and interested members, to determine what can be done about outstanding matters," Raggio said.