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I've seen some odd news releases in my time, but never have I seen one like the one Sens. Kelvin Atkinson and Mark Hutchison put out this afternoon attacking the Public Utilities Commission. No, not because the headline on the release was: "Senator's Atkinson and Hutchinson" (find the two errors). But because the PUC had the temerity to take a stand against a bill that de-emphasizes regulation, Atkinson had a conniption, as the Sun's Cy Ryan reported and is evident in the release I have posted...
You have to love the first of the five reasons a group of activists listed today to explain why Sen. Dean Heller should support immigration reform: "The number of Latino and Asian voters is growing rapidly in Nevada." I see they get right to the policy, eh? Ah, subtlety. The list of five reasons was released after a conference call cooordinated by DC folks who want immigration reform passed -- a call populated by locals who probably have never and will never support Heller, so I am sure he will...
ANOTHER UPDATE, 5/14: The city of Henderson has provided correspondence from City Attorney Josh Reid, attached here, that indicates it would not object to Milam (or his old company, Silver State Land) getting the land. The key part: As you know, in February the City initiated litigation with SSL and related parties regarding issues relating the Property. As we notified the Solicitor’s Office last month, the City is happy to report that has settled its litigation with SSL and related parties....
At its heart, the story of the Department of Justice grabbing journalists’ phone records is of an abuse of power – an attempt by an administration to discourage leaking by seeking the source through a fishing expedition of reporters’ private communications. Like any journalist – and, I hope, many non-reporters – I am outraged and sickened by this revelation. But I am also reminded of a similar fishing expedition right here in Nevada designed to chill reporting, undertaken not by the government...
The Motion Picture Association of America has written a letter to oppose the proposed admissions tax, saying it could raise the cost of movie tickets as much as a dollar. The MPAA letter is among several missives posted before Tuesday's joint Assembly/Senate hearing and all of them can be found here. The speedway has gone all out, with letters and a PowerPoint. And the Reno Rodeo wants an exemption. This could be quite the spectacle at 1 PM.  
If you golf in Nevada, get ready to panic. Your world is about to end -- or close to it. Get to Carson City, but don't bring your clubs! Here is the breathless email that went out today: The Nevada State Legislature Committee on Taxation, chaired by North Las Vegas Marilyn Kirkpatrick has introduced a potential bill that could seriously impact the golf industry in the State of Nevada. The outline of the bill is below:   The tax rate will be 8%, This tax would include gyms, golf courses,...
The Democrats just keep getting smaller in Carson City. I don’t mean literal height – but certainly in stature and the size of their tax plans. Two years ago, they proposed a visionary $1.5 billion broadening of the tax base with a services tax and a franchise tax. It was too much too late and went nowhere. At the beginning of this session, they talked about a new kind of tax discussion, starting early and developing something grand. Those promises were as empty as a strip club where the women...
The state Senate Democratic caucus will release a tax plan Monday based on adjusting the Modified Business Tax to hit mining and larger businesses, a reliable source said today. The plan would raise the payroll tax to 2 percent on mining, making it commesurate with financial institutions. Every business with a quarterly payroll of more than $62,500 will pay 1.5 percent (it is now 1.17 percent). The source says the tax changes will result in $255 million over two years. Additional changes from...
The Las Vegas Metro Chamber is vacating its Town Square office space to make way for a solar energy company that is moving here. That's according to a missive -- posted below -- that went out to members today. The company, SolarCity, announced in March it was moving to Nevada and was "scouting locations." I guess the scouts liked the chamber's digs. SolarCity already has lobbyists in Carson City -- The Capitol Company. And now it has space to operate, as the chamber helps contribute to the...

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