CARSON CITY — Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, complained Friday that the “so-called sound stimulus package” being debated in the U.S. Senate will be of little help to Nevada because the state must spend hundreds of millions of dollars it doesn’t have in order to qualify for key federal education grants.
WASHINGTON — The Senate approved an amendment on Friday declaring that no money from the multibillion-dollar economic stimulus bill may be spent on recreation projects including museums, golf courses, aquariums or zoos.
Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie said Thursday that he still plans to seek an additional quarter-cent sales tax increase from the Legislature to hire more police officers this year.
CARSON CITY — Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio objected Thursday when legislators spoke of trying to find state funds to open the $47 million, still-unfinished Nevada State Museum at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve.
CARSON CITY — A legislative proposal enabling authorities to prosecute people who view child pornography prompted concerns Wednesday that it could be used against people who unintentionally go to an Internet porn page.
CARSON CITY — Democratic legislative leaders said Wednesday they must spend at least $500 million more on education than Gov. Jim Gibbons proposes in his budget before the state can qualify for federal economic stimulus grants.
CARSON CITY — Senate Taxation Committee Chairman Bob Coffin warned Tuesday that no business will be immune from tax increases if legislators decide the state needs additional revenue to cover essential program costs.
CARSON CITY — Nevadans are wasting no time in sending ideas to state lawmakers, who convened their 2009 session on Monday — and already have about 1,200 suggestions on taxing prostitution, creating a state lottery and other steps to help erase a revenue shortfall.
CARSON CITY — In the midst of the worst recession in generations, the 75th session of the Nevada Legislature opened Monday with Democratic leaders warning of spending cuts and promising to retain essential services.
CARSON CITY — Steven Horsford, the new Senate majority leader, begins the 75th session of the Legislature today already having rejected Gov. Jim Gibbons’ spending plan as not fitting his vision of Nevada as a great state that cares about its less fortunate.
Majority Leader Steven Horsford’s opening remarks
Transportation officials are expected to press the Legislature this session with their plan to allow 19 miles of toll lanes to be built on Las Vegas freeways and funded by more than $1 billion of private money, a concept that currently is not allowed under Nevada law.
CARSON CITY — With the economy in shambles and a report that illegal immigrants are going back home, illegal immigration won’t be a big issue at the 2009 Legislature.
CARSON CITY — The mood is grim as the Legislature prepares for its biennial session.
The Democrats who control the state Legislature, under pressure to come up with alternatives to the governor’s unpopular budget proposals, presented an agenda Thursday for the legislative session. Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley and Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford put forward plans to prevent home foreclosures, create “green” jobs and embark on an intensive budget-building process that includes long-term fiscal planning.
Thomas Mitchell’s blog
