Turning Point... Or Breaking Point?

Earlier today, the US Supreme Court's ruling on Arizona's xenophobic voter registration restrictions added an exclamation point to Republican angst over comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). Already, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is proposing an amendment to S 744 to restore Arizona’s Proposition 200 and allow more states to follow suit on voter suppression registration restrictions. And that's not all. In the House, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) announced he won't allow a CIR bill onto the House floor unless it has majority Republican support. And here's why he's now saying this.

The radicalized House GOP, bolstered by gerrymandered-induced safe districts, are hell-bent on killing Senate efforts to legalize millions of undocumented immigrants. On the other hand, the Republican establishment understands that their long-term prognosis is poor unless they can start eating away at Democratic base supporters in immigrant communities (Asian and Latino, mostly, but pretty much everything else as well).

Remember, of the 2.4 million new Americans in 2012, only seven percent were white, and all of those were immigrants.It's widely assumed that immigration reform can pass the House with Democratic support and a few dozen Republican defectors, but only if Boehner ditches the Hastert Rule one more time. But after blowing off the Hastert Rule on a handful of legislative efforts, such as the fiscal cliff nonsense, his charges are restless. Few think Boehner could survive one more perceived betrayal.

So how firm is Boehner's insistance that he won't violate the Hastert Rule? We'll find out soon enough. It comes down to this formulation:

What's more important to John Boehner? 
A) His speakership 
B) The future of his party

Remember when Rep. Joe Heck suggested he can support CIR? Where is he now? As long as Speaker Boehner prevents a CIR bill from even reaching the House floor, Heck will never have to deliver on his promise the opportunity to vote for reform.

And then, there's this.



Last week, Senator Dean Heller (R) was sending mixed signals as he introduced benign amendments to S 744... Then threw a temper tantrum when Senator Harry Reid (R) sidetracked his amendments along with the more malicious ones. So now, Nevada AFL-CIO is taking to the airwaves as other immigrant rights activists hit the streets (and phones) to demand that Senator Heller (along with Rep. Heck) step up and support S 744.

As summer fast approaches, so is the fate of CIR in the 113th Congress. We are quickly reaching what will ultimately be either a critical turning point or a key breaking point. Either just enough Republicans will feel the urge to embrace long term political survival for themselves and their party by passing S 744... Or a critical mass of Republicans will buckle to 21st Century Know Nothing demands to kill the bill in order to survive the next primary.

And keep in mind that Heller, Heck, and Rep. Mark Amodei are at the center of this "TEA" tinged melodrama. As go their votes, so goes the fate of immigration reform in this Congress. So what will they choose? Will they listen to the vast majority of Nevadans and Americans? Or will they keep drinking the toxic "TEA"?

Supreme Rebuke

It's that time of the year again! It's June, so the US Supreme Court is handing down rulings. And today, the High Court issued a(nother) surprising rebuke of Arizona's xenophobic anti-immigrant statutes.

In 2004, Arizona voters approved Proposition 200, an initiative that soon imposed harsh restrictions on voter registration. Since the passage of Prop 200, Arizona counties have rejected over 31,000 voter registration forms due to failure to provide additional "proof of citizenship" (far beyond what federal law already calls for). But today, the US Supreme Court said no more.

The justices voted 7-2 to throw out Arizona’s voter-approved requirement that prospective voters document their U.S. citizenship in order to use a registration form produced under the federal “Motor Voter” voter registration law.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said that the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, which doesn’t require such documentation, trumps Arizona’s Proposition 200 passed in 2004. Arizona officials say their law is needed to stop non-Americans from voting in elections, while opponents see it as an attack on minorities, immigrants and the elderly.

But the high court agreed with the federal government in the case.

So what does this mean? Basically, Arizona violated Article I, Section 4, of the US Constitution by attempting to supersede federal election law. So now, Prop 200 is no more and Arizona (and any other states trying to prevent certain citizens from exercising their legal voting rights) can no longer erect additional barriers to the ballot box.

Prop 200 is one of many examples of Republican/"tea party" efforts to use xenophobia to gain political success. But now that they're experiencing more embarrassing electoral failure in the wake of backlash to this campaign of xenophobia, at least some top Republicans are now backtracking on this... And warning the rest of their party to follow suit.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Sunday told conservatives who are trying to block the measure that they will doom the party and all but guarantee a Democrat will remain in the White House after 2016’s election. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., went a step further and predicted “there’ll never be a road to the White House for the Republican Party” if immigration overhaul fails to pass. [...]

“After eight years of President Obama’s economic policies, and, quite frankly, foreign policy, people are going to be looking around,” Graham said. “But if we don’t pass immigration reform, if we don’t get it off the table in a reasonable, practical way, it doesn’t matter who you run in 2016. We’re in a demographic death spiral as a party and the only way we can get back in good graces with the Hispanic community, in my view, is pass comprehensive immigration reform. If you don’t do that, it really doesn’t matter who we run.”

In 2012, Obama won re-election with the backing of 71 percent of Hispanic voters and 73 percent of Asian voters. A thwarted immigration overhaul could again send those voting blocs to Democrats’ side. That has led some Republican lawmakers to support immigration reform, but the party’s conservative base still opposes any legislation that would create a pathway to citizenship for immigrants living here illegally.

Democrats are well aware of the numbers. “I would tell my Republican colleagues, both in the House and the Senate, that the road to the White House comes through a road with a pathway to legalization,” Menendez said. “Without it, there’ll never be a road to the White House for the Republican Party.”

Ouch. That's harsh. But on the other hand, that's likely so true.

After all, this is why these top Republicans are now calling on their party to embrace comprehensive immigration reform. However, they still face epic resistance from the base of their own party. And as long as the 21st Century Know Nothings continue to resist reform, Republicans will continue to face electoral trouble ahead.

So not only is the US Supreme Court rebuking this toxic "TEA" of xenophobia, but so are a growing number of voters. So when will Republicans finally be ablebto quit it once and for all?

Craven Veto

Ever since the 77th session of the Nevada Legislature came to an end earlier this month, we've been monitoring the final decision on SB 221. State Senator Justin Jones' (D-Enterprise) bill to expand background checks for gun purchases made online and at shadowy gun shows. Just moments ago, Senator Jones tweeted this.

Jones4Nevada: Disappointed with Gov. @BrianSandoval's veto of common sense legislation to keep guns out of hands of felons & mentally ill. #nvleg #SB221

Perhaps it was inevitable. Perhaps he's just unable (and/or unwilling) to get it. Whatever the case, Governor Brian Sandoval (R-NRA) just vetoed SB 221. Oh, and he couldn't have picked a better time to do so.

mikeconlow: Desperate for attention, #NV Gov Sandoval vetoes background checks on eve of Sandy Hook 6 mo anniv. Stay classy, Gov #nvleg #NoMoreNames

Tomorrow will be the six month anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. 26 people died that day. And just last Friday, we saw a college massacre unfold in Santa Monica, California. And apparently, Governor Sandoval feels it's important to continue to allow dangerous criminals easy access to dangerous weapons so they can commit more massacres.

Sorry, but I couldn't candy coat this. That's all this comes to. And we can thank Governor Sandoval and his craven veto of SB 221 for that.

Will They Let It Pass?

We've been talking quite a bit lately about what DC politicians want to do on immigration reform... But what about the people? What do Nevada voters have to say on the comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) legislation making its way through Congress? Fortunately, we now have answers.

PLAN recently ordered a poll... With the Alliance for Citizenship (PLAN's national partner on immigration reform), Partnership for a New American Economy, and Republicans for Immigration Reform! And they used Harper Polling, a Republican aligned pollster. Here's what they found.

“The results of this statewide poll should be yet another indication to our elected officials in Washington that their constituents want, and are ready for, a real and lasting solution to mend our broken immigration system,” said Laura Martin, Communications Director for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. “Comprehensive immigration reform is one of the rare issues that is both good politics and good policy. There is bipartisan support for the Senate bill that includes a path to citizenship.”

According to the poll, voters in Nevada support the Gang of Eight bill by large margins. Moreover, the results show that there is a genuine imperative for Senator Dean Heller to support the bill as constituents said they are more likely to vote for an elected official who votes for reform.

Highlights of the findings include:

64% of those polled said they strongly or somewhat support bipartisan immigratoin reform legislation being debated in Washington

71% of those polled said they strongly or somewhat support a bill that includes a tough but fair path to citizenship

57% of those polled are more likely to vote for an elected official who supports comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship

Well, this explains Senator Dean Heller's (R) recent behavior. And to drive this message even closer to home, the pro-reform coalition who released the new poll numbers also organized a call today with three prominent Nevada Republicans. University Regent Mike Wixom, Former Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury (R), and Former Governor Bob List (R) all explained this morning why they support S 744. Woodbury went into depth on border security and immigration law enforcement, and List then backed him up with this statement.

"Anyone calling this amnesty is making a big mistake. This is not amnesty. One must pay a fine and earn a path to citizenship."

List then discussed S 744's provisions on Visa reform. He, in particular, honed in on the bill's call for more Visas for science and technology workers, as well as for more agricultural workers.

Earlier in the call, Mike Wixom discussed the human aspect of reform. He reminded the audience that nesrly all of us come from families of immigrants. And he honed in on opportunities for DREAMers and children of undocumented immigrants to further their educstion and build better lives.

And this is just Nevada. In addition to this, the coalition worked with Harper and Democratic aligned Public Policy Polling to release polls on CIR from 28 other states showing similar results. For all 29 states, specific support for S 744 averages just above 67%. So there's broad support for CIR, at least among the people.

But what about Congress? Well, that's more complicated. Even as the Senate bill progresses, the House is edging closer to giving up on CIR entirely. Remember when Rep. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) sounded willing to give CIR a try? Where is he now? Where is he now that his Iowa Republican colleague (Steve King) is complaining that "illegal aliens have just invaded" his office?

And where is Senator Heller now? Oh, he's throwing a temper tantrum over the procedural side tracking of his amendments. And this is on top of Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) is throwing his own temper tantrum and (again) threatening to kill his own bill if LGBTQ families are included in the bill. Wow, what a way for Republicans to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month! (/snark)

So will S 744 pass? Can it pass? That's a question that Dean Heller and Joe Heck (and Mark Amodei) must soon answer. This has the strong support of the supermajority of Nevadans and Americans overall. But now, the fate of immigration reform lies in the hands of a few Republican Members of Congress (including Nevada's).

No More Marijuana Melodrama?

We've been waiting... And waiting... And waiting. It's been a long wait. But finally, we have a verdict on SB 374.

Immediately after a last minute "surprise skunk" from the Nevada Department of Taxation, Governor Brian Sandoval (R) sounded awfully cagey on what he was planning to do next. But yesterday, we saw another surprising twist. Guess what Governor Sandoval signed into law yesterday.

Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval signed SB374 into law Wednesday. The measure establishes the framework to make pot available to medical marijuana card holders, imposing fees and requirements for growers, processors and dispensaries of pot. It also contains provisions to continue to allow home-growing until 2016.Nevadans voted to legalize medical marijuana in 2000 and a year later were able to obtain medical marijuana cards.

However, legislative efforts to create a legal way for users to obtain the drug — aside from growing a small number of plants at home — have all failed over the years. Now, their wait is over.

"This new law will provide patients with the safe and reliable access to medical marijuana that they deserve," Karen O'Keefe, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project, said in a statement shortly after the bill's signing. "Regulating medical marijuana sales will also generate revenue and take a bite out of the state's underground marijuana market."

Nevada becomes 14th state to legalize medical marijuana dispensaries, and it's one of 19 states and the District of Columbia with medical marijuana laws, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures. Illinois lawmakers passed a bill legalizing medical marijuana this year that is awaiting the governor's final decision.

Just this month, we've seen some bizarre drama surrounding what has been a bipartisan backed bill. Just before the 77th session of the Nevada Legislature adjourned sine die, SB 374 was caught in a strange bout of procedural confusion. Then after the Legislature adjourned, Governor Sandoval began dragging his feet. And all of a sudden, the Department of Taxation dropped a fiscal note that was never even hinted at during legislative hearings.

But finally, SB 374 was signed into law yesterday. And finally, Nevada's medical marijuana patients can look forward to easier access to the treatment they need without the intense harassment from law enforcement that's plagued Nevada for the past 13 years. Finally, this bizarre marijuana melodrama is beginning to come to an end.

Senator Heller Tips His Hand on Immigration Reform (?)

Ever since the start of the 113th Congress, we've been looking at the effort to pass comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). There have been many ups and downs this year. But ultimately, Senator Dean Heller (R-46%) has been viewed as a key to passing CIR this year. And so far, he's been awfully mum on what he ppans to do to the Senate CIR bill (S 744).

Today, we finally caught a glimpse of what Senator Heller has been holding close to his vest. He actually dropped an amendment to S 744. Oh, and Senator Harry Reid (D-Searchlight) is also behind this amendment. So what's in this amendment? It just adds Nevada to the Southern Border Commission overseeing implementation of immigration reform (along with California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas).

In addition to this, Senator Heller just introduced two more amendments. These two direct more resources to security in Nevada airports. So that's all? Are these the price for Senator Heller's support for S 744?

Ralston seems to think so. I, however, still feel somewhat skeptical. After all, just last week, we saw an outbreak of "TEA" fueled chicanery as the Senate debated the Cornyn Amendment. And in case that wasn't enough, the House engaged in its own "TEA" fueled chicanery as it passed the King Amendment to deport DREAMers!

Now yes, recent signs have been more encouraging. But on the other hand, Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) is still pushing his amendment (meant to kill the underlying purpose of the bill). And on top of this, "Tea Party, Inc." bosses are demanding that House Speaker John Boehner (R-Clockwork Orange) only agree to send an immigration bill to the Senate floor that has majority Republican support... And that also has potential to kill CIR this year.

Yet amidst all this, Senator Heller released his benign amendments today. So is CIR still alive? That seems to be the case in the Senate... For now.

Surprise Skunk

Ever since the Nevada Legislature adjourned sine die, all eyes have turned to Governor Brian Sandoval to see what he finally signs into law... And what he vetoes to prevent from becoming law. And while SB 221 (the background checks gun safety bill) has been getting the lion's share of attention, another bill may be landing into trouble with Governor Sandoval.

So what happened? Governor Sandoval's office claims the delay is over a "hidden expense". Really? It costs too much to collect tax revenue?

Sandoval has said the Nevada Department of Taxation has told him that administering the tax on the medical marijuana dispensaries, which will face the sales tax plus a 2 percent excise levy, will cost $2 million. [...]

The bill had fiscal notes attached by multiple state agencies, such as the Health Division and the Investigations Division, but nothing from the Taxation Department.

“The agency is supposed to report to the Legislature,” Segerblom said. “We had no chance to question them.” [....]

Segerblom is baffled: “I don’t want to criticize the Department of Taxation. There’s some misunderstanding going on.”

What's especially baffling about this latest SB 374 controversy is that it doesn't seem to make any sense. In Coolican's Sun column, Senator Segerblom noted that SB 374 will likely raise $1.75 million right off the bat in dispensary license fees. Right there, most of the $2 million is paid for. And that's before other medical marijuana taxes are brought into the equation!

And why is this coming up now? Why didn't the Department of Taxation raise this matter when the Legislature was in session? Why did it wait until after the Legislature adjourned to drop this (supposed) $2 million bomb?

Something smells skunky here. Where did this estimated $2 million cost come from? Why is it now dropping? And how strange is it that this is coming up just as SB 374 waits at Governor Sandoval's desk?

It would be incredibly tragic if Governor Sandoval uses this as an excuse to veto SB 374. And it would be incredibly stupid. The State of Nevada faces a law suit over law enforcement harassment of medical marijuana patients if SB 374 doesn't become law. And of course, those patients will still suffer intense hurdles to access the medicine they need if Governor Sandoval vetoes SB 374.

So what will it be? Will Governor Sandoval follow the time (dis)honored Nevada tradition of being penny wise and pound foolish? Or will he finally allow the state to do the right thing for the right reasons?

Agree... Or "TEA"?

Yesterday, we took another glance at the complicated politics on Capitol Hill surrounding comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). Is it dead on arrival? Is it still very much alive? Will it ever have the votes needed for final passage? And what will ultimately be in the bill once the Senate is done with it?

Those are just a few of the many questions swirling in DC and across the nation now. And this is why immigrant rights activists here in Nevada keep asking Senator Dean Heller (R) and Rep. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) to take a stand for reform. Both Nevada Republicans expressed support for reform earlier this year, but now they're sounding awfully cagey.

Why is this? Oh, they're fearing the wrath of the 21st Century Know Nothings. Take a look at what these 21st Century Know Nothings in Texas are now saying.



Even though many of the business interests that Republicans usually cater to strongly favor CIR, many Republican politicians are still struggling to even come to the negotiation table. Why is that? See above.

But on the other hand, CIR advocates don't need the entire Republican conference. They just need enough GOP backing to secure an overall safe Senate win so they can secure momentum in the House. Can't that happen?

That's what President Obama asked just moments ago. It remains to be seen how many Republicans agree with him.

Policy Investment (or Lack Thereof)

Last week, we discussed new challenges facing comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) as House Republicans nearly blew up the entire Senate CIR bill. And why was that? They voted last week to deport DREAMers. Oh, and Nevada Reps. Joe Heck (R) and Mark Amodei (R) voted for this amendment to deport DREAMers.

Since then, the fate of CIR in Congress took more turns for the bleak. But then, this happened. And for a moment, CIR looked to be back on track.

GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire will support the comprehensive immigration bill drafted by the bipartisan "Gang of Eight," she said Sunday, saying the legislation offers a "tough but fair" path to citizenship for the nation's estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants.

"This is a thoughtful bipartisan solution to a tough problem," she said on CBS's Face the Nation. "And so that's why I'm going to support it."

And then, there's this. Also last week, Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) looked to be sabotaging (what's supposed to be) his own bill by endorsing Senator John Cornyn's (R-Texas) bullshit "border security" amendment. But today, Senator Harry Reid (D) put the kibosh on it.

Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX), the author of the provision, and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) have suggestedthe amendment is important to holding their support for reform. But on Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) called their bluff and rejected the measure.

“I will not accept any poison pills,” Reid told Univision. “I mean, we have a senator from Texas, Senator Cornyn, who wants to change border security, a trigger, saying that it has to be a 100 percent border security, or they’ll be no bill. That’s a poison pill. If people have suggestions like they did in the Judiciary Committee to change the bill a little bit, I’ll be happy to take a look at that. But we’re not going to have big changes in this legislation.” [...]

“Cornyn’s amendment is a ‘my way or the highway’ deal and his entire goal is to make the path to citizenship unworkable,” Lynn Tramonte, the deputy director of the pro-reform group America’s Voice, said in an interview. “That’s not an offer, that a strategy to derail the bill and Democrats saw it for what it was.”

On one hand, the Senate CIR bill may not move any further to the right. Yet even as progressives have been forced into many concessions to just move the bill forward, we've yet to see what conservatives are willing to give in return. Remember that when it comes to compromise and passing bills through Congress, both sides have to give.

And we've yet to hear a peep from Senator Dean Heller (R). I wonder why. Just how invested is he in passing immigration reform?

He Still Doesn't Get It.

Earlier today, we were wondering what (else) it would take to make Governor Brian Sandoval (R-NRA) reconsider his opposition to SB 221. It's the most basic gun safety reform, as it just expands background checks for gun purchases. It's supported by a broad supermajority of Nevadans, yet Governor Sandoval looks dead set to veto it.

Amid thousands of phone calls to his office, Governor Brian Sandoval said he will reject a measure expanding instances of when background checks must be done for gun-buyers."

I think it was as of yesterday just for that one day it was twenty-eight thousand (callers) opposed to the bill and approximately seven thousand for the bill, yes I do intend to veto the bill," Sandoval said.

Senate bill 221 cleared the legislature with Democratic support. Sandoval, a Republican, called the measure "overly broad."

What is he talking about? This specific bill has 72% support among Nevada voters, while the policy of expanding background checks has 86% support. Just because the NRA freeped his phone survey (with his implicit permission) does not give Governor Sandoval the ability to wipe away all the real, scientific polls showing strong support for SB 221.

And then, there's the policy behind this political melodrama. We're talking about expanding background checks so that dangerous criminals can't go online or to a gun show and buy dangerous weapons. That's all, folks. How on earth is this "overly broad"?

Governor Sandoval is even trying to pull a Dean Heller in praising the very policies he's planning to veto. Who is he kidding? He still doesn't get it.

What Else Does He Need to Know?

Just before I left for Orange County, I saw news broke of yet another mass shooting. And once the plane touched down in Long Beach, it didn't take long for me to see even more details on what had just occurred. No one expected Santa Monica College to become the backdrop for the next horrific American massacre.

View more videos at: http://nbclosangeles.com.

Five people died in the attack, and many more were injured. Here is just one of the many tragic stories from Friday's massacre.



We now know the suspected shooter was heavily armed. And he used an AR-15 semi-automatic assault weapon. Even though California banned civilian possession and use of this weapon long ago, the suspected shooter nonetheless found a way to obtain it.

So what happened? He likely purchased an AR-15 originally from out of state. This is far from uncommon, as we've discussed here before. We know Christopher Dorner frequented Lock N' Load in Henderson before embarking on his Southern California shooting rampage.

Because it's so easy to access dangerous weapons in Nevada, dangerous criminals go to Nevada (and to other states with lax gun laws) to find the weapons they want.

Against this backdrop, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval (R) holds the fate of the most basic gun safety reform (expanded background checks for gun purchases) in his hands. During the 77th session of the Nevada Legislature, State Senator Justin Jones (D-Enterprise) pulled an amazing feat in finding just enough of his colleagues to pass SB 221. When was the last time the Legislature passed a bill the NRA pushed against?



But now, Governor Sandoval is threatening to veto this simple, common sense bill. Is the NRA's seal of approval actually that important? Is it more important than saving lives?

We don't know yet where the AR-15 used in the Santa Monica Massacre was purchased. We do, however, know that many criminals go to Nevada to access dangerous weapons used in crimes committed in Nevada, in California, and elsewhere. What else does Governor Sandoval need to know?

Highlights of the Nevada Legislature (This Year)

So it's over. After 120 days of intrigue, drama, coaltion building, infighting, progress, backslides, cheers, tears, and so much more, we finally have a chance to reflect on what happened during the 77th session of the Nevada Legislature. So now that we have a chance to step back and reflect, let's take one more look at the 2013 Nevada Legislature.

Perhaps one of the greatest highlights of the session was the passage of SJR 13, the constitutional amendment to repeal the Question 2 marriage ban and enact marriage equality in Nevada. Here, the conventional wisdom of what had been considered "possible" in Carson City finally burst as we saw an outbreak of true courage. After the sharing of much heart-wrenching personal testimony, equality ultimately won the day... For now. We just have to do this all over again in two years... Unless federal courts deliver a big surprise in the coming weeks and months.



Another surprising moment was the second round of passage for SJR 15, the constitutional amendment to remove multinational mining corporations' sweetheart deal from the Nevada Constitution. While SJR 15 first passed in 2011, it looked to be on very shaky ground early this year as mining industry lobbyists doubled down to kill it. But then, a major twist of fate occurred as a prominent Republican (??!!) stepped forward to snatch a politically convenient way to kill IP 1 embrace mining tax reform. Yet even as his own mining tax scheme proposal died an ugly death, new life was quickly breathed into SJR 15. And after another shocking outbreak of courage in Carson City, SJR 15 ultimately sailed through the Legislature and onto our ballots next year.

And that wasn't all. The Nevada Legislature also surprised many by easily passing SB 303, the bill that creates driver's authorization cards for undocumented immigrants and other Nevadans with difficulties accessing personal documents (like domestic violence victims). The success was found in framing this as a critical driver safety issue... And in some Nevada Republicans' desire to fix their "Latin@ problem". So even as Nevada Republicans in Congress start succumbing to their toxic "TEA" and complicate efforts to pass comprehensive immigration reform this year, the Nevada Legislature found one way to work around their obstruction.

But wait, there's even more! SB 374, the bill to authorize medical marijuana dispensaries in Nevada, finally passed at the last minute. The state has been facing legal trouble over confusing current law, so there was an opening to act. Yet while another bill to fully legalize marijuana never saw the light of day, a surprisingly bipartisan coalition for medical marijuana emerged. And after a surprisingly bizarre last minute hiccup, the bill finally passed on the final day and headed to Governor Brian Sandoval's (R) desk (where he has yet to sign or veto).

And finally, we saw some encouraging environmental progress in the passage of SB 229. Like SJR 15, this bill had some troubling history behind it. In 2011, the Legislature agreed to SB 271, a bill meant to tear apart the regulatory framework protecting Lake Tahoe. And even worse, it was done simply because of juiced up power players' greed and disgusting backroom politics. That's why Governor Sandoval initially threatened to veto SB 229 (and keep 2011's SB 271 on the books). But after California stepped in and threatened to "go it alone" to protect Lake Tahoe, Governor Sandoval soon flip-flopped and embraced SB 229. And all of a sudden, Nevada then decided to keep Tahoe blue after all (yet it remains to be seen just how much blue and green will ultimately remain there).

And there's even more to discuss. But if I keep writing, I won't ever stop. So we'll leave it here for now, and we'll soon pick up where we left off in reliving the most memorable moments of the 77th session of the Nevada Legislature.

Toxic "TEA"

This week, we've been seeing more activity in Congress as S 744 (the "Gang of 8" comprehensive immigration reform [CIR] bill) advances. This morning, we learned of Senator Harry Reid's (D) plan to bring S 744 to the Senate floor next Monday. He and other US Senate Democratic leaders formally announced this just hours ago.



For Senator Reid and many more Nevadans, this is personal. Many of us have family members who immigrated here. And many of us have family & friends who are still struggling with the nation's broken immigration system.

Senator Reid also talked about this earlier in the week.



And there are quite a few numbers to back him up. CIR will actually help our economy if/when enacted. This is why the 21st Century Know Nothings must resort to outright lies false & misleading "reports" and "findings" to try refuting this.

Yet despite this, the "TEA" fueled opposition to CIR gained some big momentum in the "TEA" fueled House today. After all, we are talking about the "TEA" fueled bizarro world where actual governance is shoved aside to make way for Scandal-mania. This is why we actually saw this go down on the House floor just hours ago.

To a chorus of boos from the gallery, House Republicans voted 224-201 on Thursday to approve an amendment that defunds the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The amendment, from Rep. Steve King (R-IA), undercuts the flexibility that allows the Department of Homeland Security to halt deporting DREAMers and instead focus on people convicted of crimes.

After the vote, the House Hispanic Caucus tweeted,”House Republicans just voted to treat DREAMers and undocumented spouses of servicemembers in the same way as violent criminals.” Only six Republicans voted against the measure. [...]

King, a virulently anti-immigrant congressman, has already announced his intention to undermine any immigration reform effort. When Republicans last held a vote on a similar King amendment, it passed 238-175, with four Republicans voting against it.

But this time, the vote occurred at exactly the same time the House means to march forward on an immigration reform bill that would give DREAMers permanent legal status. The House Gang of Eight may have finally reached a tentative deal for a 15-year path to citizenship, after months of fractured negotiations on a bill. One indication of where the House stands on immigration is House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s (R-VA) vote today. Cantor voted yes on King’s amendment, even though he announced support for the DREAM Act (in theory) in February.

Oh, and make sure to examine this closely. Both Reps. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) and Mark Amodei (R-Carson City) voted for the King Amendment to deport DREAMers. Oh, yes. That's right. They actually voted today to deport DREAMers who were brought here as young children and only know life in America. Oh, and they said nothing about how they plan to pay for such mass deportations.

And of course, we've yet to hear a peep from Senator Dean Heller (R-"TEA" Curious). He talked a good game on immigration reform... When he felt it was politically expedient. But now that S 744 is about to hit the Senate floor and his House colleagues essentially just voted to blow it up, Senator Heller has nothing to say on CIR... But he did just tweet out his love for job-killing austerity!

So is this the end of (the push for comprehensive) immigration reform in the 113th Congress? We may not know for sure just yet, but the signs don't look good now. And once again, this is because Congressional Republicans just don't know how to quit the 21st Century Know Nothings and their toxic "TEA".

How Does This Make Any Sense?

Ever since the Nevada Legislature adjourned sine die, we've been keeping a close eye on what Governor Brian Sandoval (R) may soon do to SB 221, the background checks gun safety bill. The Governor's Office quickly set up a hot line for NRA members to freep to gauge support for SB 221. And now, the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Demand Action campaign is responding with this.

‏@RalstonReports: Mayors Against Illegal Guns using patient-dumping controversy in web ads to pressure @GovSandoval on gun bill. Wow

Oh, yes. That's right. They just went there.

While Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital is on track to regain accreditation, several California municipalities are still threatening law suits over recent "dumps" of Nevada mental health patients into their communities. And the State of Nevada is still not investing what's needed to fix our public health infrastructure so that this never happens again. And on top of all this, the fact remains that it's easier for the severely mentally ill to access dangerous weapons in this state than access the health care they need.



Think about that. It's easier here in Nevada to buy guns than it is to access the health care one needs. And while Governor Sandoval and Republican legislators claim to care about mental health care, they've (again) failed to properly fund it.

So now, a bill that simply expands background checks on gun sales to gun shows, online sales, and other "private, back room" sales sits on Governor Sandoval's desk. If he vetoes it, then the seriously mentally ill, along with dangerous criminals, can continue to easily access dangerous firearms. We'll let them have dangerous guns, but not health care.

How does this make any sense?

Partners in Crime?

Yesterday, we took another look at the latest twists and turns in the debate over S 744, the US Senate's "Gang of 8" comprehensive immigration reform bill. Today, we have a new development. Something may finally be hitting the Senate floor soon.

RalstonReports: MT @ezraklein: Reid has filed cloture in the hopes of bringing the immigration bill to the Senate floor on Mon./What will @SenDeanHeller do?

Indeed. What will Senator Dean Heller (R-"TEA" Curious) do? This is what everyone has been asking since last November. But now, the moment of truth is finally arriving.

Unfortunately for Heller and other Senate Republicans "stuck in the middle", their situation is becoming even more awkward. Get ready for another new "TEA" fueled effort to kill CIR. And this time, it may actually be coming from within.

GOP Senator John Cornyn [R-Texas] has been pushing a new immigration compromise that would dramatically strengthen the border security “triggers” that would have to be met to make a path to citizenship operative. The argument is that this is the only way enough Republicans can be enticed to support reform to enable it to pass the Senate in broad numbers. Senate Democratic aides are rejecting Cornyn’s proposal,arguing that it is deliberately designed to make the pathway to citizenship unattainable —in other words, to undermine the core of reform. [...]

Cornyn has undercut Rubio by staking out a position much further to the right of the Gang of Eight compromise that Rubio had been taking (he’s been saying some changes are needed, but not to the degree Cornyn wants). This risks making Rubio look like he isn’t the real guardian of conservative interests in the negotiations. Rubio has already been very sensitive to this perception, which is why he’s been making noise about defecting from the Gang of Eight compromise. Cornyn has just further undercut Rubio’s delicate balancing act.

Meanwhile, GOP Rep. Raul Labrador has walked away from bipartisan talks over immigration reform in the House, because of a dispute over whether undocumented immigrants should have access to health care. It appears undying hatred of Obamacare could scuttle those talks. All this confirms, though, is that it’s probably going to be impossible to get a majority of House Republicans to support comprehensive reform, which means the only route to success probably will turn on whether House GOP leaders will allow it to pass with mostly Democratic votes. That, again, turns on whether House GOP leaders are willing to accept a path to citizenship becoming law or not.

The solution for Democrats is to continue to insist on something close to the Senate “Gang of Eight” compromise, because anything that seriously undermines the path to citizenship is not worth supporting in any case. Ultimately, the prospects for reform turn on whether Republicans will accept a path to citizenship predicated on reasonable conditions —period, full stop. The rest is mostly just noise. Of course, if the answer to that question is No, then reform will die.

And there we have it. If Senator Cornyn succeeds in gaining a critical mass of Senate Republicans behind his new proposal, then CIR likely dies. Supposed "Gang of 8" leader Marco Rubio (R-Florida) has already been sabotaging what's supposed to be his own legislation (!!!) behind the scenes. And now, he has another partner in crime.

So what happens now? That's a good question. Again, CIR will likely die in this Congress if Senator Rubio pushes Senator Cornyn's new amendment. After all, it just reeks of a Trojan Horse. And there's not much House Republicans will appreciate more than a dead Senate immigration bill. After all, Reps. Joe Heck (R) and Mark Amodei (R) have yet to endorse S 744 despite signaling support for CIR earlier this year.

And it all boils down to Republican politicians pandering to the 21st Century Know Nothings. Even with many corporate lobbyists (you know, the other end of the Republican base) advocating CIR, these politicians still fear the wrath of their "TEA" fueled base. So we may soon end up with an unworkable bill that will only be made even more unrealistic once it reaches the House... Or simply nothing.

And that may be what the G-O-TEA partners in crime were hoping for all along...