CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Longtime Nevada lawmaker Morse Arberry's new job is renewing calls for a cooling off period for lawmakers. The long- time chair of the Nevada Ways and Means Committee resigned this week to become a lobbyist for the district court.
But the I-Team has uncovered his long history with avoiding property taxes, and things haven't changed. Arberry wants ten thousand dollars a month from the county, but few know that Arberry actually owes the county thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes.
It's a trend Arberry hasn't reversed well. Now the revolving door of politics may finally close on him.
"I am vehemently opposed to this at all levels," said Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak.
Commissioner Sisolak will be a no vote on the court contract next week. He thinks the courts don't need a high priced lobbyist to do the job.
"It doesn't seem reasonable or fair that they could go from one position one day and step immediately into the next position the next day," he said.
But it's perfectly legal. Nevada has no "cooling off period" for lawmakers. Other states have a one year gap to stop that revolving door from happening.
Julie Tousha with the Nevada Center for Public Ethics says the law has to change.
"It represents a huge conflict of interest," she said. "Our legislators are almost calling their own shots."
But beyond the cozy relationship from legislature to lobbyist, Arberry has his old nagging problem cropping up again. Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani was astounded when she learned he hasn't paid his property taxes.
"Really?" she said.
Arberry did not return calls and emails to his multiple offices. The chief judge who wants Arberry for the lobbying job did not know about the tax problems, past or present, until we told him.
Judge Art Ritchie said "We wouldn't have entered into a contract or proposed that if we didn't think he would do a good job."
The proposal for Arberry's contract goes up before the commission on Tuesday.
