The Equality Act admirably sets out to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include “sexual orientation and gender identity” as protected from discrimination in public accommodations and employment. It is sponsored in the House by all but one Democrat — including Nevada Reps. Dina Titus, Steven Horsford and Susie Lee. A companion bill in the Senate is sponsored by all but … [Read more...]
Unionization of state public workers would fleece taxpayers
Unfortunately a Democratic proposal to allow state public employees to collectively bargain for wages and benefits, Senate Bill 135, survived this past week, passing out of a state Senate committee on a party-line vote, even after studies showed it will balloon the cost to Nevada taxpayers. Since 1969 local government public workers have been allowed to unionize, but not … [Read more...]
Bill would curb policing for profit
A bill being considered by lawmakers in Carson City would end the current practice by law enforcement of seizing property suspected of being used in a crime by using civil law, rather than criminal law, and keeping the proceeds of the seized property for themselves — pejoratively labeled policing for profit. Assembly Bill 200 would require all seizures to be handled in a … [Read more...]
Bill would water down public school accountability
If your job is to make widgets, your supervisor will evaluate your job performance principally on how well you make widgets and how many. But if you are a Nevada public school teacher, not so much. There is a bill wending its way through the halls of the Legislature in Carson City that would reduce the importance of the one thing teacher and administrator evaluations should … [Read more...]
Don’t allow police to scan cellphones after wrecks
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” — Fourth Amendment The urge to dictate … [Read more...]
Just say no to annual legislative sessions
Democrats in Carson City are beating this dead donkey again. Ten of the 13 state Senate Democrats are pushing for annual legislative sessions instead of sessions every other year. Senate Joint Resolution 5 would amend the state Constitution, which currently calls for 120-calendar-day sessions in odd-numbered years, by establishing 90-legislative-day sessions in odd-numbered … [Read more...]
Bill would strengthen public records law
It is time to put some teeth into Nevada’s public records law. Even though state law requires that all public records and books, except those specifically exempted as confidential by law, must be open for inspection and copying, government agencies have been flouting the law for years, refusing to turn over anything that might prove embarrassing to the agency or its bosses. … [Read more...]
Bill would shred state Read by 3 law
A gaggle of Democrats in Carson City have proffered a bill that would gut Nevada’s Read by 3 law like a fish. In 2015 lawmakers voted to require schools to have students who have not achieved proficiency in reading by the end of the third grade to be retained in the third grade for another year. It was modeled after a law passed in Florida in 2002 that quickly reduced … [Read more...]