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When the 74th session of the Nevada Legislature adjourned this week, State Sen. Mike McGinness, R-Fallon and Assemblyman Ed Goedhart R-Amargosa Valley, agreed the major accomplishment affecting local residents was more money in the transportation budget to improve Highway 160 between Pahrump and Las Vegas.

State legislators approved $170 million for highway construction over the next two years; much of that will go toward widening Interstate 15.

"We've got a $16 million carve out set aside from that $170 million to go toward road expansion," Goedhart said.

Focus Property Group agreed to fund an additional $2 million toward the proejct to widen Highway 160 from Mountain Springs Pass down to Blue Diamond, Goedhart said, a two-lane segment on the Las Vegas side of the Spring Mountains.

The Nevada Department of Transportation already has plans to widen Blue Diamond Road as far west as Rainbow Boulevard in the southwest Las Vegas valley.

"I think that's going to benefit everyone from Pahrump who travels down to Las Vegas down Highway 160," Goedhart said. "That was an 11th hour deal that was made, so we're real happy for that. It was a budget that was almost 21 percent bigger than the last biennium budget."

Senator McGinness said the improvements won't happen overnight, "but I think during the next couple years we're going to see some improvements on the first part of 160."

Regarding other issues, McGinness said there's money in the budget for solving some of the methamphetamine problems, for educating and law enforcement. The legislature also put restrictions on purchasing ephedrine, an ingredient in methamphetamine but also a cold medication, he said.

"I think it was a successful session," Goedhart proclaimed. He referred to the two most closely watched bills sponsored by Nye County, the creation of a Nye County Water District and the legislation allowing Nye County Commissioners to increase the sales tax a half percent.

McGinness said provisions were written into the sales tax bill requiring a super-majority vote of county commissioners to enact it into law, four out of the five commissioners. There were also reporting requirements imposed, after Clark County voters passed a sales tax increase in 2005 for hiring more personnel but it was used for other purposes, he said.

"I believe in local rule rather than the legislature opposing," McGinness said.

When it comes to the Nye County water district, McGinness said, "a lot of people are frightened about that but I think it will give Nye County it's own destiny on water. It's not a water czar, they're more a water planning agency."

One of Goedhart's bill's that passed, Assembly Bill 253, will allow impact fees to be used for connections to water and sewer facilities.

But a request for legislation to tighten up water protests by federal agencies failed. Goedhart said the Nevada Conservation League and the Sierra Club convinced the assembly committee chairman of government affairs to shelve the proposal. Goedhart said he would've had nine out of the 14 votes.

Goedhart said he'll work with county farm bureaus to attempt to build support for the measure in the future, which affects some property owners in his home of Amargosa Valley.

The legislature did approve restrictions on the use of eminent domain which Goedhart said provides relief to property owners.

"It's very similar to what's happening with water rights when they're being held hostage by frivolous water protests," he said.

Goedhart won approval of a bill beefing up the State Commission on Ethics.

"The first session it's a lot knowing how the process works, who the movers and shakers are and building up traditional alliances to deal with issues in both houses," Goedhart said.

Both legislators said they received the most phone calls about legislation on firearms. Changes on concealed weapons were made in favor of gun owners, McGinness said.

McGinness had some bills fail on subjects that included banning juveniles from possessing tobacco products; allowing code enforcement officers to become sworn peace officers; expanding the number of non-partisan offices in local elections, like the county recorder and county clerk; allowing people convicted of a crime to make a payment in lieu of community service and requiring vehicles transporting certain substances to have a tarp.

Goedhart said it was a chaotic scene when Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, was still attempting to pass bills when the 120 day regular session ended at 1 a.m. Tuesday. Some Republicans, included himself, cast no votes in opposition after that time. Governor Jim Gibbons later Tuesday called a special session to wrap up some of the bills.

McGinness announced at the Lincoln Day dinner in Pahrump this year he'd be a candidate for re-election in 2008. Goedhart is already talking about running for re-election too, following the session. He pledged to work on a bill next session, in 2009, that failed this session, giving Nye County a share of the oil royalties from wells in Railroad Valley. Goedhart said that was money "hijacked by the state a long time ago" for the state distributive school account.

"If the people decide they would like me to represent them again that's going to be something I'm going to be working on," Goedhart said. "The royalties, anything over $7 million can go back to the county. We'd like to lower that to $5 million."