Education Funding Boost Could Mean Collective Bargaining Changes

Governor Brian Sandoval’s proposed budget is being hailed by many– but not by those you might expect.

The New York Times last weekend quoted Nevada state Senator Moises "Mo" Denis, a Las Vegas Democrat, as saying he never thought he’d see the day that, “a Republican governor was proposing all the things we’ve been proposing for the last 20 years.”

To boost education funding, for instance, the governor is seeking $1.1 billion in continued and new taxes.

But that won’t happen without some trade-offs. One of the areas Republicans say they want to change is the state’s long-standing commitment to collective bargaining.

Assemblywoman Maggie Carlton is a Las Vegas Democrat and a former waitress who has been a shop steward in the Culinary Union. She told KNPR's State of Nevada that everything is on the table when it comes to compromising. 

“We’re going to sit down and work with anyone who wants to work towards real solutions to the problems that are facing us right now,” Carlton said. 

She does not necessarily agree with one proposal from Assemblyman Jim Wheeler, R-Minden, which would apply open meeting laws to collective bargaining sessions.

Carlton said that 400 people can't be involved in negotiations, but that any agreement for public employees is always brought before elected officials like a school board or county commission before it is approved.

The assemblywoman also points out she doesn't believe changes to collective bargaining rules is a top priority for most people in the state. 

She said she gets calls about issues like schools, roads and traffic and believes any debate about collective bargaining rules is move ideology than practical.

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Assembywoman Maggie Carlton, D - Las Vegas 
Copyright 2015 KNPR-FM. To see more, visit http://www.knpr.org/.

Assembywoman Maggie Carlton, D - Las Vegas 

Copyright 2015 KNPR-FM. To see more, visit  http://www.knpr.org/.