Monthly archive

Rats, sinking ship, etc.
I have already written here and here about a group of 200-plus lawyers writing a threatening letter to various elected officials, including state senators who will possibly vote on a bill changing hearsay evidence rules in some cases. The stupidity and near-criminality of this maneuver cannot be overestimated. Nor was the next step in this story's trajectory unpredictable. On Wednesday, attorney Lisa Rasmussen sent a missive to senators attached to this email: Dear State Senator:Please see the...
This is the funniest thing you will read all day/week/year
From journalismjobs.com, the Review-Journal, a k a Las Vegas' "newspaper," advertises for a publisher, and I helpfully annotate part of it (I am not applying, FYI): GateHouse Media LLC, is searching for a visionary (as in willing to make money and sacrifice quality) leader to guide the Las Vegas Review Journal, headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, into a new era (Mesozoic?).  First published in 1909, the Review Journal is the leading news organization in Las Vegas (um, false) and publishes high-...
"Conservative" Brent Jones: Labor under attack
Assemblyman Brent Jones, a key member of Team Fiore and foaming attacker of fellow pro-tax Republicans, wrote a letter in which he fretted about "cherished legal protections for workers and unions are under attack." The missive, which you can see below, was responding/pandering to an AFL-CIO postcard. He also lamented that this "has been a difficult session for labor." He also told the author of the postcard he would keep concerns about prevailing wage in mind going forward.  Joens, of course,...
Lawyers threaten lawmakers
I've never seen anything like this in writing during a legislative session -- a letter to elected officials from a bunch of lawyers on a measure that would allow hearsay evidence into certain criminal proceedings: Any elected official who advocates the passage of AB 193 will not receive any support from the signatories of this letter. This includes no financial or monetary support and/or soliciting third parties to support your candidacy by way of endorsement. Are you kidding me? So back off...
Primary vs. caucus: What will Nevada do?
UPDATED, 4/27/15, 11:30 AM: Key insiders in both houses tell me that the final bill likely will have the February primary for all races, which will thrill incumbents of both parties, and a carve out for the Democrats to still have a caucus. It's dynasty time in Nevada, folks, and manna for pundits. I'm also reliably told that Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, who was in Las Vegas this weekend at Sheldonfest, is quietly supporting the primary and has made calls. Why quietly...
Heck rethinks U.S. Senate race
Rep. Joe Heck, who said six months ago he has no interest in the U.S. Senate, is considering the race, sources confirm. Heck recently met with the National Republican Senatorial Committee and has chatted with GOP senators, multiple sources told me. Heck still is leaning against the race, I'm told, but he has agreed to consider the contest.  "I still think it is more likely that he passes than runs but he has agreed to do his homework and consider it," said one insider familiar with Heck's...
What a tax deal might look like
It's early: The governor's Business License Fee tax plan just passed the state Senate on Tuesday, everyone knows it won't come out intact from the Assembly but there are still 40 days left in the session. But it's never too early for pundits to pontificate and speculate. So here's what the contours of a tax deal might look like, as one knowledgeable outside observer put it: We can still have “broad based tax” using a reformed MBT combined with a reformed LET and a tiered but flat BLF with a...
Cliven and clan are a bit upset
The Bundy Family is angry that lawmakers have changed a bill presented by Michele of the Thousand Tax Liens to, you know, make it legal. Barely So what's happening now is lawmakers are being urged to vote NO on the measure that once was declared unconstitutional (um, federal supremacy) by every lawyer who looked at it, including the Legislative Cousnel Bureau. I hear the measure has no chance to go back to its original form and only a marginal chance to survive either way. The latest panic...
Sandoval stands strong on Uber
I don't know why I asked for a statement from Gov. Brian Sandoval on the (temporary) entombment of the Uber bill, which today was revived when leaders of both houses exempted it from any deadlines, a highly unusual move for a dead piece of legislation. But I asked for it:   “The Governor believes that the Legislature is the proper arena for this debate and that Nevada’s elected lawmakers are well suited to discuss, deliberate and ultimately address this issue with the best interest of Nevadans...
Transgender bathroom bill close to passage
After believing a transgender bathroom bill was dead on the Assembly floor, GOP leaders are fretting the controversial measure is within a vote or two of passage before Tuesday's deadline. The measure has no chance to become law -- it will either die in the Senate or be vetoed by the governor. But a headline highlighting the Assembly Republicans, who have been a serial embarrassment thanks to a core group of flat-out ignoramuses and religion-fueled obsessives, passing out this discriminatory...

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