Problem licked, the 56-year-old former state assemblywoman and university regent settles in and lets loose on her new responsibilities, the merits of all-day kindergarten and her lack of admiration for men occupying the White House and our governor's office.
Are Democrats feeling pressure to produce?
Yes, there's pressure, but it's a positive feeling. Judging from the last month and a half, I think the Democrats are well-aware of the issues confronting this country. In our first 100 hours, we took away tax subsidies from the oil and gas industry and put those into renewables; gave the federal government the power to negotiate lower drug costs for older Americans; increased the minimum wage; lowered the interest rates on student loans; and lastly, we spent five days on Iraq. While we produced a nonbinding resolution, we spent a week discussing an issue on which the American people are clamoring for a change.
You serve on two Ways and Means subcommittees: trade, and income security and family support. Talk about the work it entailed.
All of our trade agreements are up for review, and I think it's time to revisit the fast-track legislation, which gives the executive branch almost complete authority in the free trade process. It's an up-and-down vote and doesn't give Congress the ability to make changes. As far as the other committee [income security and family support], we're having a series of hearings with no legislation and no votes attached, just to learn certain issues. Lately we've been discussing the cost of poverty—what is the cost to society when you have a child that comes from a broken home, has a history of being battered, has poor nutrition and limited opportunities to go to school? How do we help this child? If students' minds or bodies aren't growing, we're all going to pay the price down the road.
So there's no upcoming legislation addressing this?
There's tons of legislation. But we're holding hearings on issues before holding hearings on specific pieces of legislation so that we actually know what we're talking about when we're voting.
The all-day kindergarten debate in Nevada—school superintendents want it; the governor doesn't. What side are you on? This is a no-brainer. All-day kindergarten is the way to go. There's only one study I know that says all-day kindergarten isn't a benefit. You don't need a study; all you need is a little bit of gray matter between your ears to figure this one out. You talk to any educator in the Las Vegas area, and I will bet you dollars to doughnuts that if they can get these children who are non-English speaking into the system earlier ... if they start in kindergarten, by the time that kindergarten is over, they can speak English. Is it time to consider letting counties raise taxes for schools? Every two years, school districts have to beg the Legislature for money.
It's time for the people of the state of Nevada to put their money where their mouths are. You can't keep talking about being a champion for education if you're not going to put in the requisite dollars. We underfund our education system in this state by almost twice as much as they do in New York. The state of New York spends $13,000 per student. We spend almost half of that. You get what you pay for. You've got a diverse congressional district—suburban areas and those with gangs, high income, low income ... And no income [laughs].
Can you truly meet everyone's needs?
I try to strike a balance. For example, on the minimum wage. My small businesses were going to take a hit with the minimum-wage increase. We didn't want them going out of business. So we struck a balance: Provide tax breaks so they can withstand the minimum-wage increase. I'm very aware of the law of unintended consequences. I voted for A, B and C and never dreamed that D would happen. So now that D is happening, what do we do to fix it? Here's a curveball: When are you running for governor?
Not [laughs]. I don't see my future in Carson City. I like the legislative process. I like Congress. It gives me the opportunity to work on domestic issues that affect my constituents and has a foreign-policy aspect that the governor's job doesn't.
Staying on foreign policy, you're very involved in the peace process between Israel and Palestine.
I believe in a two-state solution—a Palestinian state side-by-side with a Jewish state. There's no way I would encourage Jews to negotiate the end of their existence. When the Israelis unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza [Strip], I was there. My husband and I were among the last civilians to leave the Gaza. It was a very hard thing to do as a Jew. According to the Bible, the Gaza is part of greater Israel, and Jews have lived there since biblical times, and the Israeli government was saying for the sake of peace, we're going to forcibly remove Jews from their biblical land. But I recognize the importance of doing it.
Let's talk spending. Politicians rail against pork-barrel spending, but in many ways their effectiveness is often judged by how much money they can procure. I am a great believer in earmarks, and I take great pride in bringing home funding from the federal government on projects that are essential to the success and well-being of my community and constituents. Rather than eliminating earmarks, it's appropriate that every earmark have a name attached to it so that you cannot have members of Congress sneaking in items at the last minute at the behest of a major contributor. On the other hand, I shout from the rooftops for the funds I get. There's almost a $4 billion shortfall for transportation in this state. The fact that I was able to bring money to complete I-215, U.S. 95, etc., is huge. Nevada has been a donor state for years, we want some of that money back. I think those are legitimate earmarks, not pork. Now, sticking something in an intelligence budget for a buddy of yours—that, to me, is wrong.
Is Yucca Mountain dead?
Let me say it's dead but ... sometimes when you cut off a chicken's head and the chicken keeps running around ... I think for all intents and purposes that Yucca Mountain is dead, but it's still going to be running around.
Have we seen the last of President Bush's attempt to tap the monies Nevada gets from federal land sales?
No. His budget doesn't balance, and he's going to be looking for money in all the wrong places. And this is the wrong place. Talk about the letter you wrote to Karl Rove on February 9.
He made disparaging remarks about my constituents, specifically singling out Las Vegas [about not having his son grow up to make beds in Las Vegas]. I bet when he comes to Las Vegas, he likes his bed made.
Your thoughts on our current governor.
Ha. I was not a fan of congressman [Jim] Gibbons and I remain less than inspired by his performance [as governor].
Can a Democrat win this state in the next presidential election?
A Democrat will win.
Will that Democrat be Sen. Hillary Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama?
There are a number of Democrats that could possibly win the state: John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and a handful of other second-tier candidates. And I predict there will be a Democrat in the White House.
Whom will you support?
I'm the co-chairman of the Democratic caucus, so I'm neutral 'til the bitter end.