Monthly pay for Guard members in war zone proposed

(Appeal Capitol Bureau) Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, argued Wednesday for a $500 monthly stipend for every member of the Nevada National Guard called to active duty.

Coffin said SB355 was prompted by stories he has read in the newspapers about the financial hardships experienced by families of those called to serve in the Iraq War.

He said the state has fully supported its troops in other ways.

"But there comes a time when we have to give them more than that," he said. "What we have not done is provide any financial support to the men and women in the National Guard."

The bill would provide $500 a month for each Guardsman serving in a war zone and $250 for those called to active duty but not assigned to a war zone.

The estimated cost of the program would be $21.6 million this year but Coffin and Nevada Guard Gen. Giles Vanderhoof said it's impossible to predict future costs because no one knows whether the nation will be in a conflict somewhere or not. Vanderhoof estimated the cost in future years at about $7.5 million each biennium.

But Vanderhoof said his top priority is the plan to pay tuition in the university system for returning Guard members.

The committee took no action.

Senator asks that legislative travel, expenses pay be raised

Sen. Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, told the Finance Committee on Wednesday the amount legislators get for travel and living expenses during each session hasn't been increased in nearly 20 years and no longer even comes close to covering actual costs.

He said airfares for southern lawmakers, for example, have more than doubled in the past five years. Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said that rate has probably tripled or better since the rate was last increased.

Lawmakers now get $6,800 a session to cover travel and living costs.

He said a round-trip flight to Las Vegas is now $218.90 and that most lawmakers are paying $800-$1,200 a month for rent.

"I don't mind losing a little bit of income to be up here and do what we do," he said.

But, he said, the costs are now getting very steep for lawmakers who aren't independently wealthy. He estimated the average out-of-pocket costs for travel and living expenses at more than $9,200. He said SB311 doesn't increase that amount. Instead, it takes the issue out of statute and allows the Legislative Commission to set the amount when changing prices make a change necessary.

Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, said his airfare is more than $300.

The committee took no action.