Burn this bill

In constructing a list of the state’s highest policy priorities, giving Southern Nevada firefighter unions more political and bargaining power ranks just below a 7 p.m. last call for alcohol and mandatory annual colonoscopies.

Yet lawmakers gave a hearing to Assembly Bill 420, sought by firefighter unions. It would change the city charters in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas to allow fire chiefs to communicate directly with city council members instead of going through city managers, who happen to sit across from the unions in contract talks. Coincidentally, those cities are in nasty contract disputes with their firefighter unions.

Local firefighters do very, very well at your expense, typically taking home more than $100,000 per year, to say nothing of their benefits and pension contributions. Their ever-increasing compensation is a driving force behind local governments’ fiscal woes and ongoing budget deficits.

Clearly, unions want more gravy in return for their campaign contributions and work to elect council members. If you thought fire chiefs were supposed to be in the business of supervision and representing the public’s interests, not just the interests of their rank and file, guess again. The likely result of this bill would be union-loyal council members meddling in day-to-day fire and rescue operations and further undermining taxpayer interests in collective bargaining.

During an Assembly Government Affairs Committee meeting Monday, Assemblymen John Ellison, R-Elko, and Pete Livermore, R-Carson City, suggested the unions get their chiefs together with city managers for coffee more often. That sounds about right.

Nevada needs AB 420 like it needs another recession. Lawmakers should burn it.