Lawsuit aims to block referendum on $1.4 billion tax package

CARSON CITY — A lawsuit was filed late Monday seeking to block a referendum to put a $1.4 billion tax package approved by the Legislature to a public vote.

The suit filed by the Coalition for Nevada's Future in District Court in Carson City argues that the initiative sponsored by the anti-tax group, We Decide Coalition, is defective in its description of effect and violates the single-subject rule.

The We Decide Coalition filed its referendum with the secretary of state's office earlier this month, but supporters have not yet started collecting signatures. Last Thursday, that group filed a lawsuit in Clark County in an attempt to thwart the latest legal action taken by tax supporters.

The suit filed Monday argues that the description of effect — a 200-word synopsis of what the initiative would do if enacted — is confusing and misleading "because a voter cannot determine whether signing the petition would lead to enacting or repealing" the measure.

It further argues that the petition violates the single-subject law that limits initiatives to one topic.

Some backers of the anti-tax referendum challenged the single-subject rule in a different case argued before the Nevada Supreme Court in early 2014, but no ruling has yet been issued.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 7750687-3901. On Twitter: @SandraChereb