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Jul. 03, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Panel probes Hardy votes

Bills may have aided senator's employer

By ED VOGEL
REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- An Aug. 14 hearing will be held to determine whether state Sen. Warren Hardy broke state law by voting on two bills that may have helped his private employer, the state Ethics Commission announced Wednesday.

A two-member panel of the commission reviewed Hardy's voting record for the past three legislative sessions.

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    • It found "just cause" exists to call Hardy, R-Las Vegas, before the full commission to explain his votes on Senate Bill 467 in 2005 and Senate Bill 509 in 2007. The panel threw out complaints filed against Hardy concerning his votes on about a dozen other bills.

    The commission wants to determine in the coming hearing whether he used his position as a senator to gain an unwarranted advantage for himself and his employer, the Associated Builders and Contractors of Las Vegas, or ABC.

    Hardy is president of the organization, which represents contractors.

    He did not abstain from voting or "adequately disclose" his financial interests in SB467, a bill on public works projects, according to the commission panel.

    Hardy also did not abstain from voting or "adequately disclose" his financial interest in SB509, a bill that would have required contractors to pay more money to workers on some projects, the panel stated.

    Hardy said Wednesday that he has no doubt the full Ethics Commission will throw out the complaints on the two bills, just as the panel did on other bills it reviewed.

    "I followed the advice (on disclosing financial interest) of our legal staff, just like everybody else does in the Legislature," he said. "If we can't rely on advice of our legal counsel, who can we rely on?"

    Henderson resident Richard B. Miller in March filed a complaint with the Ethics Commission alleging Hardy "repeatedly and inappropriately" was voting on bills that benefitted him and ABC without disclosing his financial interest in the legislation.

    Miller, who lives in Hardy's district, could not be reached for comment. In his complaint, Miller said Hardy had sent out a letter "trumpeting" ABC's defeat of SB509.

    Shortly after the complaint was filed, Hardy said he did not have to disclose his ABC relationship before every vote on matters affecting contractors. He added he can vote on bills affecting ABC if the benefit the association and its members receives is not greater than that received by similar companies.

    At the beginning of each legislative session, Hardy said, he files a statement identifying his employer and the companies for which it lobbies. That is sufficient disclosure, he added.

    Hardy added that he also verbally told the committees that heard SB467 and SB509 that he worked for ABC.

    "I went above and beyond my duty by the oral disclosures," Hardy said. "They want additional information on why the bills did not affect me more than anybody in the construction industry, and I will give it to them. I am not concerned at all. I was permitted and required to vote on those bills."



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    honest citizen wrote on July 07, 2008 08:53 PM: Rich Miller is a resident of Sun City Anthem and the leader/founder of the Democratic Special Interest Group. He like to brag about being a life-long union activist from the East who is a close personal friend of the Clintons who is dedicated to helping to lead the conversion of NV to becoming a Democratic State--at all levels.

    He has the right to do that, but do not be fooled about his serious goal to hurt Senator Warren Hardy, and every other member of his party.

    This is pure, dirty politics. It does not matter whether Senator Hardy is ethical or not. We are being manipulated by Eastern political operatives and we do not have to stand for it!


    Ron M wrote on July 03, 2008 09:07 PM: Anyone who knows Sen Hardy is aware of his integrity in all that he does. If the media fairly follows this story it will be proven that this is a ploy by the unions to get rid of one of the few legistlators that will stand up for the little guy. Warren did follow the letter of the law and made full disclosure. When this is found to be the case it is most likely that it will not be reported. This is my take.. it doesn't suck, now rack em.


    clean up state government wrote on July 03, 2008 09:08 AM: Hardy is no different then any of the other legislators who serve special interest. All of these legislators vote on bills and sponsors bills that protect their interest or the interest of their employers, friends and business partners. The level of review for state legislators is far less then local government. These people have opportunity after opportunity to serve special interest without anyone knowledge. There is no sunshine or open meeting law to address the problems at the state legislature. Because these politicians are so far removed from the media and the general public it is difficult to tract their actions. These people conduct business behind close doors and out of sight of the publics view. If the ethics committee want to do something they would revamp there policies, and laws, but don’t expect much from this hand picked group to clean up government.


    Helon Wheels wrote on July 03, 2008 08:36 AM: Miller has taken lots of free dinners from the unions?! You better prove it!

    Hardy seems to be a guy just like Raggio and Amodei, in that being employed by gaminig and voting for gaminig and being president of nevada mining and voting on mining these guys are just the new version of hired hands of the railroad barons.

    I think he stinks!


    rb wrote on July 03, 2008 07:56 AM: If Senator Hardy is found guilty in this trumped up case then every public employee serving in the legislature is equally or more guilty. Most of them are very self serving. Senator Hardy filed the appropriate written statement at the beginning of the session while most of the public employees or employees of public funded entities did not. The PE's and their supporters want a govt citizen legislature rather than a real working citizen legislature.


    Hardy Supporter wrote on July 03, 2008 05:59 AM: I have followed this situation from day one. Warren will be found innocent of all charges, as he IS innocent of all charges. Each Lawmaker is supposed to disclose ONE TIME at the beginning of the session their ties to various industries in which they are involved. Warren has done this religously. Does John Oceguara disclose before EACH and EVERY vote, his ties to the Unions and the $$$ amounts that he receives from the Unions ?? How about Dina Taxes ??? What's funny, is that neither of them (and 75% of the other Lawmakers) have EVER disclosed ANYTHING. The interesting thing that should come from this is the fact that Richard Miller has taken mucho dinero from the same Unions that put $$$ in John O and Dinas pockets. Coincidence ??? I don't think so ....