Politics and Government
The days of motorists being able to talk or text with hand-held cell phones while driving in Nevada might come to an end this year. The likelihood of such legislation being approved at the 2011 session improved significantly when a key assemblyman who blocked a similar proposal two years ago offered his support Wednesday.
Democratic leaders announced a plan Tuesday to use so-called excess school bond reserves to construct and repair schools. Assembly Ways and Means Chairman Debbie Smith said the plan would free up $80 million for Washoe County schools. It would not immediately free up any money for school construction in Clark County because of declining property values, she said.
UNLV President Neal Smatresk told the Faculty Senate on Wednesday he believes the state’s higher education system will have to declare financial exigency, a declaration similar to bankruptcy, to deal with cuts proposed in Gov. Brian Sandoval’s budget.
During her first Senate Revenue Committee meeting, freshman state Sen. Elizabeth Halseth listened carefully Tuesday as a staffer explained to the panel exactly how Nevada collects and spends its money.
Las Vegas Democrat Harvey Munford is drafting a bill to place as much as an extra 5 percent sales tax on junk food purchased in restaurants and convenience stores.
