BLOG
Kirkpatrick is a different kind of speaker, but will this be a different kind of session?
CARSON CITY -- If you were there in 1989, during the searing acrimony of the 300 percent pension increase, you really can’t believe. If you were there in 1997, during the special interest domination of the Session From Hell, you really can’t believe. If you were there in 2003, during the relentless nastiness of The Great Tax Debate, you really can’t believe.
Legislative leaders met with Brooks on Sunday, and he agrees to leave
So a cadre of legislative leaders met Sunday in Carson City with troubled Assemblyman Steven Brooks, and he subsequently agreed to an indefinite leave of absence. I'm told Brooks emphasized he has a passel of medical problems -- as opposed to psychological -- that he needs some time to heal, using that as the reason for his leave. But the key here is that the select committee, to be appointed this week, will still go on with its business to investigate Brooks.
Reid on "This Week" talks immigration, guns and more
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made a relatively rare appearance on a Sunday program today, interviewed by George Stephanopoulos on the "This Week" show. The full transcript is below, with a few of my annotations sprunkled amid the colloquy in italics. Some of the highlights:
Cegavske's "rocket surgeon/thinker" donor, Tark's disputed debt, the Dems crush the Republicans, other end-of-year fundraising nuggets
Here are some items I put out on Twitter this morning after perusing end-of-year FEC reports. Enjoy: ----Unsung hero of @SenDeanHeller's victory was Washoe GOP, which became fed PAC to help him, spent more in '12 than circumvented NV GOP: $918K. ----Failed #nv04 candidate @DannyTarkanian is disputing $54K worth of bills he accrued in his campaign: http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00465963/851420/sd/10
Brooks requests seats for opening day as outreach from leadership met with silence
Legislative leaders have reached out to troubled Assemblyman Steven Brooks to try to resolve his continued service, but have been met with silence as he appears to be making arrangements to appear in Carson City on Monday.
Las Vegas Chamber to members: Margins tax is "ill‐conceived and misleading public policy measure"
This missive went out today to the thousands of Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce members about the margins tax that the Legislature must consider: Dear Las Vegas Metro Chamber members, Today, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that an initiative petition to enact a “margin” tax on business is eligible to move forward. The state legislature now has 40 days from the start of the session next week to pass the proposal. If they do not, it will be on the ballot in 2014 for voters to decide.
State Supreme Court forces lawmakers to take a stand on taxes
The Branch of Inaction now has no choice but to take action. After decades of quarter-measures and half-promises, the Legislature must finally take a stand on a business tax. And in forcing the Gang of 63 to stand up or roll over, the the state Supreme Court has ushered in what is sure to be a battle royale not seen in 10 years, not since the dreaded gross receipts tax was immolated in a bonfire of ineptitude, fear-mongering and cowardice.
Nevada Supreme Court says teachers tax can go to Legislature, go on ballot
Decision posted here -- reverses District Court.
Clark County constable wonders if memos constitute "deprivation of rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution"
Yes, that's what Constable John Bonaventura, whose office some county commissioners want to abolish, says about two memos, attached here, about how to conduct business during the legislative session. The memos have to do with procedures for getting travel to Carson City approverd -- just a week after one of Bonaventura's constables accompanied troubled Assemblyman Steven Brooks to the capital. "Travel to Carson City that has not been requested by the county's lobby team is strongly discouraged," one of the memos reads from Manager Don Burnette.
Site readers: Legislative Democrats will propose tax increase
Not sure how many times Mike Roberson voted..... (New poll up.)