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Headline of the year -- until it was changed
UPDATED: Managed to get the hard copy of the RGJ. It has close to the original headline, but a helpful sub-head for Heller. It's attached here. After the Senate voted to move to the gun debate on Thursday, the Reno Gazette-Journal ran a story about the 68-31 vote with this memorable headline:
GOP pollster conducts Hispanic focus groups in Vegas
Public Opinion Strategies recently conducted focus groups among Las Vegas Latinos to try to probe ways for Republicans to effectively reach out to a demographic that is deeply distrustful of the GOP.
Gay marriage advances, with amendment to repeal ban and allow marriage equality
With a last-minute amendment that would both repeal the ban in the Constitution and replace it with a mandate for Nevada governments to recognize it, gay marriage advanced in the Legislature on Thursday.
Heller: Let's have the debate
Moments after voting to proceed to the gun bill, Sen. Dean Heller put out this statement to make sure people understand he still loves the 2nd Amendment:
Nevadans overwhelmingly support universal background checks
UPDATED WITH CROSSTABS: I have obtained them, and here's what they say (and they are attached here so you can see all the details). As I suspected, the only place where there is signifcant opposition to background checks is rural Nevada (22 percent). But 59 percent of rural voters feel strongly and 12 percent more somewhat back the idea of universal checks. Even in the two congressional districts with rural areas, strong support is above 70 percent. Support is much stronger among women (84 percent strongly support) than men (65 percent).
Lawmakers pass a new body of law, but it has no spirit
If you find the word “corporeal” in a new law, I would suggest: 1. Someone has been using a Thesaurus. 2. Someone has been taking part in seances. 3. Someone is desperate to justify a new law’s raison d’etre. That was my initial reaction when I saw the word meaning one’s actual body (as opposed to the spirit) in a new, probably unnecessary bill that is a response to a political situation and not really a substantive one. Yes, that never happens in Carson City.
State teachers union leadership about to change
It isn't on many folks' radar, but the woman who has been the driving force behind the margins tax is leaving the Nevada State Education Association. Lynn Warne's term expires in June, and the election to replace her is later this month. It's a three-way race, I'm told, between Ruben Murillo, who heads the Clark local; John Carr of the Education Support Employees Association; and ex-Assemblyman Doug Bache. I make Murillo the early favorite. But this will be very interesting to watch.
Sandoval: Marriage "should be between a man and a woman"
As the national media continues to regularly chronicle some national politician "evolving" on gay marriage, Nevada's governor is not joining the supposedly Darwinian progression on the issue: Brian Sandoval remains opposed to gay marriage, he told a Spanish-language interviewer in an exchange posted this week on the station's
On Senate floor, Reid invokes bill he sponsored almost a half-century ago for a three-day waiting period for guns
In 1969, two freshmen Democratic assemblymen from Southern Nevada introduced a bill that would have mandated a statewide three-day waiting period for gun purchases. The measure was introduced on Feb. 6 and referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. It was never seen again.
Brooks pal Barlow endorses Hispanic hopeful for former assemblyman's seat (updated with other applicants)
Meli Pulido (1).pdf, Michelle Jotz.pdf, William Robinson II.pdf, Glynn Coleman.pdf, TyroneThompson.pdf, KellyThomas.pdf, FredYoung.pdf, Mujahid Ramadan.pdf, MichaelKelly.pdf SECOND UPDATE: Mujahid Ramadan, a longtime activist who worked for Gov. Bob Miller and Sen. Harry Reid, has applied. As an African-American who has been at the forefront of many issues, he could be a factor. I have attached his application here. UPDATED: I have also attached resumes for other applicants, including ex-North Las Vegas Councilman William Robinson's son. Las Vegas Councilman Ricki Barlow is urging Clark County commissioners to appoint former city employee Meli Pulido to fill expelled Assemblyman Steven Brooks' seat.