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Mayors Goodman and Hafen offer support for collective bargaining reform bill
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen have sent a letter to Nevada lawmakers expressing general support for a collective bargaining reform bill that has infuriated public employee unions. The two mayors straddle a fine line in the letter, obviously embracing some of the key reforms but inisisting they don't want to "throw the baby out with the bathwater." Goodman is in the middle of a re-election campaign -- she is favored, but probably does not want to stir up unions as early voting has begun.
Common Core advocates begin media campaign featuring ex-Education Secretary Bennett
As state lawmakers begin to consider education reforms, inlcuding both a reaffirmation (by the governor) and rejection (by Tea Party lawmakers) of education standards, Common Core backers will start a media campaign later this week. The first ad will start on radio and feature Reagan-era Education Secretary Bill Bennett talking about how conservatives are coming back to Common Core, a few days before Assemblyman Brent Jones' repeal effort is heard next week.
AFL-CIO goes up with ad criticizing lawmakers, targeting Sandoval
So how does the AFL-CIO feel about all of those bills targeting collective bargaining, overtime and the minimum wage? Here's how -- airing statewide:
Jeb was once part of nuclear industry group pushing Yucca Mountain
Jeb Bush declined last week to take a position on the Yucca Mountain repository, saying he had to study it before deciding. But he has had a position in the past: He was for it.
Assembly GOP plan coming today
Here's what it will do, sources say: Increase of MBT (payroll tax) rate to 1.56, from 1.17. Eliminate health care deduction for employers, which will put $32 million into state coffers. This will be controversial. (Watch for gaming volcano -- a real one, not the one at The Mirage.) Business License Fee will go from $200 to $300 for most employers, $500 for some. Total is estimated at $60 million above governor's $7.3 billion budget, but remember: There are more than $100 million in holes in that budget thanks to tax credits. (Thanks, Elon.)
Poll: Hambrick recall has little chance, "no new taxes" pledge is a waste
A survey commissioned by a PAC tied to Gov. Brian Sandoval finds good news for Speaker John Hambrick and bad news for the GOP Ass. Caucus/Citizen Outhouse wing of the Republican Party. The Nevada Jobs Coalition, which helped take the state Senate, commissioned the survey by the well-regarded Tarrance Group. The findings are devastating for the Just Say No Caucus.
Anthony keeps switching messages; turnout low, Democratic
UPDATED, 2:45 PM: Now Her Honor has a new ad, with an endorsement from a former first lady. After two days of early voting, if Las Vegas Councilman Stavros Anthony expected a high GOP turnout to fuel an upset, it's not happening.
Anti-tax gadfly forms PAC, running ads against "The Sandoval Tax"
One day after he advocated for his tax plan, Gov. Brian Sandoval is under assault on Northern Nevada talk radio for "strong-arming" his plan and keeping it secret from voters during the campaign season. The ad, attached here, is paid for by Stop the Sandoval Tax PAC, registered Wednesday by Todd Bailey. Bailey likes to call himself "Todd Taxpayer" and has roamed the hallways in Carson City for years, once failing in a run for the Assembly.
Assembly GOP tax plan to drop Monday
Assembly Republicans have crafted a tax plan that is a hybrid of the business licesne fee component used by the govervor and an expansion of the payroll tax plan sought by some business types, sources confirm. The plan is expected to drop Monday, the deadline for committee bill introductions. One GOP assemblyman told me the governor's plan has trouble because "I campaigned against gross receipts." That's ar eference to the governor's plan, based on businesses' gross receipts, and the teachers' margin tax, very different but also based on gross receipts.