CARSON CITY – They’re introducing a bunch of bills right now, so let’s take this opportunity to catch up with a couple of other good opening-day speeches.

Assembly Majority Leader John Oceguera specifically eschewed cliches in his remarks, saying “…every time we use those clichés, we distance ourselves from real people and the very real problems they face.”

For example, he cited the story of the man whose daughters needed surgery, but who couldn’t afford it and was having trouble finding a doctor to do the work. “When the family was leaving the hearing room, one of the children turned to smile and say goodbye,” Oceguera said. “She may not have understood the gravity of the discussion, but we did. We have an obligation to her, and so many others like her.”

“I believe that we have reasonable people in this state, not just in these chambers but also in our businesses and communities. They understand that we cannot allow political dogma and tired clichés to dictate Nevada’s course,” he added, “That doesn’t mean we will always agree about the solutions to our problems. But we cannot let the objections of a few keep us from making the tough decisions that are expected of us. Everyone has to compromise, and be willing to give a little. That’s the price of living in a democracy.”

Oceguera added the state should not rely on one-shot funds to fix the long-term problems created by the bad economy.

“And if Congress does provide us with much needed revenue to restore the worst of the budget reductions, we can’t afford to then wipe our brows in relief and say, ‘The budget’s balanced and we can go home.’  If we do that, if we make no provision for the future and instead rely on the economic stimulus to bail us out, we’ll be back here again in the next legislature, maybe even in special session, addressing the same problem and offering up the same old clichés about tough questions and tough decisions.

“Yes, the decisions are tough.  So, let’s make them, and be done with it.”

Something tells us we’ll only wish it was that easy.

Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert also pledged bipartisan cooperation, but only when Republicans agree with Democrats. When they don’t, she said, Republicans will stand on prinicple.

“We Republicans are ready to support sensible legislation … as long as [it] does not hurt our state,” she said. “On many decisions in the ensuing 75th session, I can assure you, the final tally will be something other than 28-14.” (Republicans have 14 members in the Assembly, one-third of the total.)

“We want to be at the table, not only the sidelines,” Gansert added. “There’s a lot of difference between flatly saying no and participating in healthy debate.

“During this session, you can expect this Republican caucus and this minority leader to present stiff resistance to proposals that we do not believe are the right direction for our state. However, we pledged today to work in a constructive manner with every member of this Legislature,” she added.

So there you have it, people: The session will be peaceful at times, but there’s sure to be a fight before the 120 days are up. But not today: As the long series of bills were being introduced, Buckley left the speaker’s podium and was seen chatting at length with Gansert on the Assembly floor.