It’s never enough. Despite lawmakers funding 3 percent teacher raises in this year’s legislative session and lawmakers increasing taxes by $750 million a year in 2015 to fund public education, the Clark County teachers’ union is launching a petition campaign that would ask voters statewide to increase taxes by $1 billion a year for public education. The Clark County … [Read more...]
Conscience Rule for Doctors just Needs a Rewrite
Despite what some have implied, a recent decision by a New York federal judge striking down the so-called “conscience rule” promulgated by the Trump administration is not a license to pressgang doctors and nurses into performing procedures abhorrent to their consciences — such as abortions, contraception and gender transitioning procedures. U.S. District Court Judge Paul … [Read more...]
Nevada Needs a Law Allowing Police to Cooperate with ICE
A ruling by a federal judge in California has put law enforcement agencies in Nevada and much of the nation in legal jeopardy if they hold prisoners, who are in the country illegally, for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for potential deportation. The ruling by Central California U.S. District Court Judge Andre Birrote Jr. in September held that it is a … [Read more...]
Time to Bring Wild Horse Population Under Control
The Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board met in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 31 and came up with a list of recommendations for the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service on how to curb the exploding wild horse and burro populations on the public land in 10 Western states. On a vote of eight in favor with one member abstaining, the advisory panel recommended, “The … [Read more...]
How to Redraw Political Districts after the Census?
An effort has been launched to make the boundary changes to political districts after the 2020 Census less subject to manipulation by the major political parties. Earlier this month, the League of Women Voters Nevada filed a constitutional amendment with the Secretary of State that would create a bipartisan commission to redraw political districts rather than the state … [Read more...]
Bill Language Should not allow Water Grab
A growing number of public and private entities are joining a concerted effort to make sure a bill pending before Congress does not inadvertently create a means for Clark County to tap rural groundwater, though Clark County officials protest that is not the intent of the proposal. According to Great Basin Water Network (GBWN) — a coalition of conservationists, rural … [Read more...]
Appellate Court Nominee Falsely Accused
The confirmation process for federal judicial nominees has turned into a scorched earth battle fueled by character assassination and innuendo coming from faceless, nameless partisan critics who can never be held accountable. This was evident once again this past week as former Nevada Solicitor General Lawrence VanDyke, who has been nominated for a seat on the 9th U.S. … [Read more...]
Public Workers Should not be Bound by Union Contracts
In June of 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court in Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees ruled 5-4 that it is unconstitutional to require public-sector employees to pay union dues, saying they have a fundamental First Amendment right to not be compelled to support union systems states and local governments adopt. The court thus overruled a 1997 … [Read more...]