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Assembly committee chairs to be announced soon -- Carlton, Bobzien, Benitez-Thompson and Frierson will get key posts
The Assembly will be organized very soon, I'm told, and here is some of what is coming (Note the snubbing of Lucy Flores, long on the outs with Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick): Ways and Means: Chair--Maggie Carlton (The Sun's David McGrath Schwartz beat me to this) Vice-chair: William Horne Government Affairs Chair--Theresa Benitez Thompson Vice-chair--Dina Neal Judiciary Chair-- Jason Frierson Vice-chair--James Ohrenschall
Hell freezes over, "newspaper" does flattering profile of former employee
If you missed it, the Las Vegas Review-Journal today gave yours truly many column inches in its "Nevadan At Work" feature. It's a testament to the reporter, Jennifer Robison, who did a straight-up piece, and the editor (Mike Hengel) and publisher (Bob Brown) for green-lighting it. (A far cry from the drefocked duo who used to run the place, one of whom actually took to the "comments" section.) It is time to drop the quote marks around the "newspaper" now?
Nate Silver says internal polls often mislead; I say: Depends on the pollster
Far be it from lil ole me to disagree with Nate Silver, the polling guru who has gained even more celebrity this cycle because he correctly foretold President Obama's victory.
It's time for annual sessions and full-time legislators in Nevada
I delivered this rant on "Ralston Reports" on Friday -- the video is elsewhere on the site, a couple of minutes into the program: April Mastroluca’s resignation from the Assembly reinforces what I have long thought about our Carson City Gang of 63:
Nevada Senate Republicans continue Hispanic-friendly moves
First it was Gov. Brian Sandoval moving to the middle on immigration issues. And now, just a few moments ago, the Senate Republicans, apparently kicking off their 2014 effort to retake the upper house (OK, I'm cynical), issued this release: The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, with the support of Governor Brian Sandoval, announced this week that its policy would be to honor the employment authorization card granted to successful applicants under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Deferred Action program.
Democratic Assemblywoman April Mastroluca will resign
April Mastroluca, a Democratic assemblywoman poised to play a key role in the 2013 Legislature, will send a letter to Gov. Brian Sandoval on Friday announcing her resignation. The stunning move comes after the potential Ways and Means chairwoman decided, she says, that she could no longer serve because of what she described as family issues. She declined to elaborate, but she sounded shaken during a phone conversation.
America's Voice speaks a little too loudly about Hispanic vote in Nevada
I understand that Hispanic advocates are ecstatic about the record turnout in Nevada this cycle, as much as 19 percent of the vote, according to exit polls. Indeed, the Latino landslide for President Obama helped him easily win Nevada again. Exit polls showed Obama won Hispanics by 50 points or more, contributing to his more than 6 percentage point win here.
New Sun boss: What you thought was news is not news
In an email sent to employees today, one day after KSNV and the Review-Journal reported on a management shakeup, Paul Hamilton, overseeing the Greenspun family finances and now in firm control of the Las Vegas Sun, sent this to the newspaper's employees: Last night, a story was circulated regarding changes in the management of the Greenspun companies. I would like to set the record straight on a couple of points.
Tarkanian loses another round in court, may have to pay judgment or declare bankruptcy
In what has become a familiar pattern, a court has swatted away failed congressional hopeful Danny Tarkanian's attempts to avoid paying any money toward a $17 million judgment against him and his family. Tarkanian staved off filing bankruptcy during his campaign in what was seen as an obvious move to preserve his electoral viability. But that may no longer be an option after a couple of court decisions this week -- the documents are attached here.
Miller causes stir with voter ID proposal
UPDATED WITH GOV. BRIAN SANDOVAL REAX BELOW WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE -- THE SPEAKER...SPEAKS, ALSO BELOW It’s hard to imagine a more unlikely sponsor of a voter ID bill than Democratic Secretary of State Ross Miller.