Something Different

Ever since her arrival in Carson City, she's been making waves. And now, she's ready to bring a tsunami into the Lieutenant Governor's Office.

Assembly Member Lucy Flores (D-North Las Vegas) knows she's doing something different. She's represented a minority-majority inner city district since 2011. She hasn't been afraid to take on issues like sex education, LGBTQ civil rights, mental health care, public school funding, and even medical marijuana (along with the legislative process). Clearly, she's not following "standard operating procedure" on "how to succeed on the Nevada political scene".



Yet now, Lucy Flores is running for Lt. Governor. She's running to provide a different perspective. She's running to represent those who often aren't even heard in Carson City.

Last weekend at the Nevada State Democratic Party Convention in Reno, Lucy Flores explained why she's running and why she's not afraid to offer something different to the table.



We know this whole race has turned out to be something quite different. With the "official top of the ticket" not being contested, the Lt. Governor race has become the "de facto top of the ticket". And even though the Lieutenant Governor's Office may not seem important at first glance, this year's election has turned into a different kind of choice.



But then again, is it all that different of a choice? There's Lucy Flores, someone who has overcome multiple life challenges and knows the challenges working class Nevada families face. And then, there's this.

Lucy Flores is offering something different this fall. And this Lt. Governor race should keep things interesting this year.

The Ultimate "Rebranding" FAIL

This morning, we couldn't help but take another glance at that terrific "Republican rebranding" campaign underway. Ain't it something to behold?

Apparently, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval (R-Still Doesn't Know It's 2014) wants to add his own contribution to the "Republican rebranding" campaign. But how so? Oh, he's continuing to fight against marriage equality in federal court. No really, he had the Attorney General's office file this brief with the Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals.

So what does it say? Get a load of this.

State's brief: "The institution of traditional marriage pervades Nevada law and society... (has) a defining effect on Nevada’s society." [...]

NV brief: "Nevada law that defines marriage to be between a man and a woman is legitimate..under equal protection or due process standards." [...]

Followed by: "interest of the State in defining marriage ..motivated by the state’s desire to protect and perpetuate traditional marriage."

"Institution of traditional marriage"? What does Governor Sandoval mean by that? Is he talking about the "institution" Britney Spears flew into town a decade ago to indulge in for a grand 55 hours? (Don't worry, Brit Brit. We still love you!)

And let's talk about that "interest of the state". In 1931, the "interest of the state" involved attracting more dollars into the state and finding a way to ride out The Great Depression. That's why "quickie weddings" and "easy divorces" came into existence and made a lasting mark on Nevada marriage laws.

So who's Governor Sandoval kidding here with his talk of "traditional marriage"? We already know he's on very shaky legal ground. And in the wake of the Ninth Circuit's recent decision to adopt the "heightened scrutiny" standard for cases of anti-LGBTQ discrimination, Governor Sandoval is now standing on incredibly unstable ground.

Dare we ask, who is he getting his advice from? This season's "Bachelor"? Dave Agema? Perhaps Sherri Shepard? Or was it just someone who was trying to compete with the comedic platinum that we're finding in this hot mess of a brief brought to us by the usual suspects?

So how's that "Republican rebranding" coming along, Nevada G-O-TEA? We see you're still trying to deny what's increasingly undeniable. And you're still twisting yourselves into knots to try to defend the indefensible. And you wonder why your recruitment campaign is increasingly looking like this?

What Can Be Done

This week, we've been jumping back into issues closer to home. And yes, there's one issue in particular that's raising our eyebrows and getting us thinking. Here's a hint: T. E. I.

We're not the only ones thinking about it. In a letter to the editor published in today's Las Vegas Sun, Las Vegas elementary school teacher Angie Sullivan summed up the sorry state of perhaps the most important part of Nevada's public infrastructure... And what must be done to fix it.

Nevadans should vote for the Teacher’s Education Initiative in one year. The initiative will tax businesses that profit $1 million or more.

For over a decade, Nevada’s public schools have been teaching, testing, reteaching, tutoring, testing, testing and failing as public schools endured $1 billion in cuts.

Some have tried to use teachers as scapegoats. This is very puzzling to those of us who serve above and beyond for the students. Frankly, teachers are struggling with too many needy students, not enough supplies, not enough support, and obstacles such as poverty.

Bottom line: We know our students are failing. We have data to prove this. We also know that Nevada does not fund our schools adequately.

This is what we've been saying here all along. What politicians in Carson City can't do is what voters must do. And The Education Initiative (TEI) finally gives voters the opportunity to do what must be done.

As usual, Ralston mourns the policy failures that have grown out of the dysfunctional politics of this state. And in quite a few aspects, he's right on the money. But now, we have a chance to move beyond mourning over what can't be done. We finally have a chance to seize what can be done.

So what can be done? Remember these three letters: T. E. I.

We've had it with the overcrowded schools, overburdened teachers, and underfunded public infrastructure. And yes, we've had it with the usual hand-wringing and empty rhetoric. We now have The Education Initiative on next year's general election ballot, and we know it can (and must!) be done.

If we want Nevada to succeed in building a better economy and a brighter future, we have to look beyond what hasn't been done and realize what must be done. Then, we have to recognize that it can be done. And of course, we then have to just do it already.

Reality Check

Over the weekend, something interesting happened. Jon Ralston announced his campaign for Governor. Wait... What??!!

Calm down. Ralston is not actually running for Governor next year. Rather, he was just fantasizing his ideal Gubernatorial Campaign. And he imagined a kick-off speech starting like this.

It’s time to believe in a new Nevada – a place where education is valued, where fair share really is fair and where silly tax pledges are replaced with thoughtful public policy.

We have been a state of half-measures – nay, quarter- or eighth-measures – for too long. When I hear the governor’s administration say it is pleased with this national education report card, I am shocked. And, yes, I am ashamed.

As we all should be. So far, so good.

Ralston's imaginary campaign kickoff speech also touched on the trap that the Governor and Legislature have always been falling into with each passing biennium. It's the same trap that manifested itself yet again during the 77th session of the Nevada Legislature earlier this year. And it's the same trap that only leads to even more trouble for this state.

So now, we're back at Square One. We're back at "Gov Rec" and everyone's favorite silly Sunset Taxes. And we're back to our regularly scheduled chronic underfunding of our public infrastructure.

Of course, Governor "Magic Man" is hailing this as a huge victory. And yes, it's a major political victory for him. But for the people of this state, it's another in a very long string of policy FAILs. The most "juiced up" corporate special interests will continue paying just above nothing while We the People continue to suffer overcrowded & dilapidated schools, severely strained health care, transportation in disrepair, and more.

But at least this time, we can still hold onto the promise of a better tomorrow. Sure, it won't actually come tomorrow. But with The Education Initiative on next year's general election ballot, We the People will finally have the opportunity to do what the Governor and many legislators simply refuse to do. We the People will finally have the chance to begin fixing our anachronous, broken tax system while also mending our tattered social safety net. And frankly, it's long past time for We the People to carpe diem.

Oh, yes. That's right. We went there... In May.

And frankly, that's the truth. The only way we will accomplish meaningful tax reform in the immediate future is by passing The Education Initiative (TEI) next year.

But of course, here's where Ralston & I part ways.

The margin tax, which the governor makes sound like the apocalypse, is not the answer. But who can blame anyone for supporting it because of the governor no-tax pledge, which has as many asterisks as the baseball record book, the Legislature’s serial inaction, compounded by buck-passing "enabling" tax measures.

I have thought long and hard about this, and I will not vote for the margin tax. Setting tax policy at the ballot box is a terrible last resort, and I’m here to tell you I have another plan.

This is perhaps the wildest fantasy in Ralston's fantasy campaign speech. Frankly, there is no other realistic plan for actual tax reform. Governor Brian Sandoval (R-Denial) isn't offering one, and we've yet to see a Democratic challenger emerge with one.

So where does that leaves us. It leaves us with three letters... And a certain 2014 ballot initiative.

Yes, "ballot box budgeting" can be messy. I know from personal experience. Ralston seems to buy into Pete Ernaut's spin... Even though he's had to admit that what just happened was a complete clusterf**k!

For all the wailing and moaning and gnashing of teeth over the fears of California style direct democracy coming to Nevada, we must ask this: Is it really a bad thing? California now has a budget surplus and additional education funding thanks to Prop 30. And Prop 30 was pursued because an extreme obstructionist minority refused to cooperate on realistic budget solutions. [...]

Sure, in an ideal world, this wouldn't have to happen. However, we're not in an ideal world. We're in Nevada. In order to make this state a better place, we must build a more stable and diversified economy. And in order to do that, we must better invest in our public infrastructure. And if the Governor and Legislature can't act to make that happen, then we the people must.

I wrote those words in March. I stick by those words now. And I'll likely be repeating these same words throughout 2014.

Sure, Ralston has a point about this not being an ideal situation. Honestly, it's not. We elect legislators and a Governor to enact budgets and determine state funding.

But really, is the status quo an ideal situation? Come on, we all know the honest answer to that. (Which is: Hell, no!)

In an ideal world, TEI would have never gone as far as it has. However, we don't live in an ideal world We live in 2014 Nevada with a tax code still stuck in 1864.

This is why TEI will be on our ballot next year. Our state's "political elite" are in sore need of a cold, hard reality check. And right now, the only way for that reality check to arrive in Carson City is if the voters deliver it directly to them in November 2014.

While Ralston's weekend column made for a nice fantasy, it's time for a reality check. And yes, it's time for TEI.

The Consequences of Foolishness

Remember, it was all supposed to be over by now. Governor Brian Sandoval (R-Denial) was supposed to have fixed all the problems at Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital. And there's supposed to be no more patient dumping.

Last month, news broke of incredibly long wait lists at Lake's Crossing Psychiatric Hospital in Sparks. And after all the revelations of mental health patient dumping (into other states) from Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital in Las Vegas, someone is now stepping forward to demand justice. Yep, San Francisco is taking the state to court.

San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera filed the class-action lawsuit against Nevada, Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital in Las Vegas and state mental health administrators, seeking reimbursement for the care of indigent patients he said the system “dumped” onto California in an effort to save money.

“What the defendants have been doing for years is horribly wrong on two levels,” Herrera said in a written statement announcing the lawsuit. “It cruelly victimizes a defenseless population, and punishes jurisdictions for providing health and human services that others won’t provide.”

In addition to unspecified financial damages, the suit asks for a permanent injunction preventing Nevada from dispatching psychiatric patients to California unless they are residents of the destination city or county, are being sent to family members who have agreed to care for them, or are being sent to a medical facility where arrangements have been made for their treatment.

Ever since The Sacramento Bee first uncovered the horrific story of James Flavy Coy Brown's bus ride to Northern California, media from across California began investigating the matter. Pretty soon, other states began reporting patient dumping incidents. Then, federal health officials began investigating Nevada's broken mental health care system.

And now, federal investigators are confirming what many had suspected all along.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Servicesassessed a sample group of 41 charts for patients at Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital in Las Vegas and found that in 16 cases, patients were discharged without evidence the hospital had made even basic arrangements for their shelter, support or follow-up care.

The majority of those patients were discharged directly to Greyhound buses bound for other states, without documentation of specific instructions about how to find housing or mental health treatment.

Most had been living in Las Vegas shelters or on the streets before being transported to other cities. A few were sent by bus to homeless shelters in the area.

CMS officials said the hospital's handling of the cases violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act or EMTALA, sometimes known as the "anti-dumping" law, requiring hospitals to either stabilize emergency patients or, at the patient's request, to transfer them somewhere else. Rawson-Neal, which already has lost its accreditation following investigations into its discharge practices, could face further sanctions for violating the act.

So is anyone still wondering why San Francisco is suing the state? And why are we left to wonder when our state will finally invest in fixing our languishing public infrastructure?

These are the consequences we are now paying. Southern Nevada's only public hospital dedicated to mental health care is losing federal accreditation, at risk of losing federal funding, and now faces a law suit in federal court. And why? Oh, it's just because our state government has had a knack for penny wise and pound foolish bullshit.

These are the consequences of failure to invest in our own people. Can we afford to continue making this same mistake? Can we afford to continue being so foolish?

Sabotage Circus

It's now September. Fall is just around the corner. And Syria isn't the only tricky situation President Obama has on his hands.

We are less than a month away from the federal budget deadline, and just over a month away from the next debt ceiling deadline. And so far, several G-O-TEA acolytes have been threatening to shut down the federal government and blow up the world economy if they don't get their way in destroying the Affordable Care Act (or ACA, or Obamacare). So not only has The White House had to figure out tough foreign policy, but it's also had to work on a game plan to defuse the haute new manufactured crisis peddled by TEA-publicans hell-bent on taking away people's health care.

Oh, and did I mention the other big deadline coming up? October 1 is also the official rollout day for the new Affordable Care Act state insurance exchanges. Yet even with this coming up, health care policy officials in several states have been worrying about the lack of advertising. Since the G-O-TEA hordes in Congress keep trying to sabotage Obamacare, they refuse to do anything to help implementation of it.

So what can be done? Why not turn to Hollywood & Silicon Valley!

Thanks for spreading the word.#ROAR MT @katyperry: RT@BarackObama: Get affordable coverage starting Oct. 1 http://t.co/1zEA5K9Ebl

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 26, 2013

Katy Perry has about 42 million followers. Obama has about 36 million.

Perry is one of a number of celebrities the White House has enlisted. Last week, reporters spotted Magic Johnson entering the White House. When he left, he made it pretty clear he’s on board.

Don’t forget that Obamacare officially starts on October 1st.

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) August 29, 2013

[...]

Last week, Georgann Helmuth, business development manager at Cover Oregon — Oregon’s new health insurance market place — conducted her own Ask Me Anything session on Reddit, where she was able to explain the law and enrollment process to hundreds of Oregonians for free. A hundred here, a hundred there, pretty soon you’re talking a lot of people.

In ruby red Kentucky, officials at the state’s exchange — Kynect — post at state events, including the annual Bourbon Festival, which helpfully takes place in mid-September. They’re also trying to reach young people using targeted digital ads on Pandora and Hulu.

So there are a lot of irons in the fire, real potential to reach a critical mass of uninsured people, and overcome the din of misinformation that’s been blaring in people’s ears since 2009. But it’s still a much greater challenge than it would be if everyone, including Republicans, took real interest in helping people, and began pulling in the same direction.

Thanks to continued G-O-TEA intransigence, ACA implementation has been far more difficult than originally expected. Yet despite all the challenges, Obamacare is working. And especially with Governor Brian Sandoval (R) and the Nevada Legislature cooperating on ACA implementation, it's already working well here in Nevada. So far, the only real challenges have come from G-O-TEA Congresscritters, Governors, and state legislators who refuse to abide by settled law.

G-O-TEA bomb throwers have been going to great lengths to try to sabotage the ACA. And as a result, the Obama Administration has had to go to great lengths to sidestep the G-O-TEA sabotage attempts. Imagine what Obamacare would look like without the ongoing G-O-TEA sabotage circus. That's what makes the TEA-publican cruel joke all that more cruel (and less funny).

Congress has had forty Obamacare repeal votes. At times, The White House has had to implement the health care law with one hand tied behind its back. And the entire nation may still be dragged through yet another manufactured crisis over extreme ideological tomfoolery. How much more of this circus can we take?

Falling Through the Cracks

Over time, it's become a familiar story. We've become all too familiar with the many tragic stories from Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital. And now, Nevada is beginning to pay the price of allowing all the patient dumping from there.

But now, we're finding out Rawson-Neal may not be alone. Today, we learned of Clark County public defenders' law suit against the Lake's Crossing Psychiatric Hospital in Sparks.

The Clark County public defender’s office filed the lawsuit in June against Lake’s Crossing Center in Sparks, saying inmates on the waiting list are spending an average of 80 days in jails without proper treatment and with their legal cases on hold.

“Incompetent detainees have routinely spent weeks and, in most cases, months, at detention facilities where the conditions are punitive and no prompt restorative treatment is available,” the lawsuit alleges.

The state must respond to the lawsuit by Aug. 26, according to Nevada Health and Human Services spokeswoman Mary Woods. In the meantime, the state is working to meet demand by adding 10 beds to the Dini-Townsend building — on the same campus as Lake’s Crossing — by November.

Mentally ill inmates are waiting 11 times longer for admission than they're supposed to. And as a result, their criminal cases are stuck in legal limbo. And to make matters worse, this is a problem that should have been resolved when the state settled another law suit in 2008.

Yet again, the State of Nevada decided to be penny wise and pound foolish. By not investing in basic mental health care and public infrastructure, the state is now in a world of constant legal trouble. Rawson-Neal is already being pummeled with law suits as the federal government continues to investigate the troubled mental health treatment hospital in Las Vegas. Even accreditation is now at stake there.

And now, it's not just Rawson-Neal. Cracks are appearing throughout the system. And far too many people are falling through those cracks. There's a financial toll to pay. And of course, there's a real human toll as well.

When will the powers that be (in Carson City) learn?

Can Republicans Teach an Old "Team (Nevada)" New Tricks?

The 2012 campaign may now feel like a long lost memory, but it occasionally comes back to haunt us every so often. Remember "Team Nevada"? They're back! Nathan Sproul may be long gone, but his mischievous spirit lives on among Nevada Republicans.

Last year, we witnessed the "Quick Poll: Obama or Romney??!!" crew shouting down voters, chasing them into the DMV parking lot, and causing headaches for everyone else attempting to legitimately register voters. Oh, and by October, reports of voter registration fraud surfaced. For all the 21st Century Know Nothing whining about "VOTER FRAUD!!!", it turned out that they were the ones committing the fraud all along.

So far, we haven't heard any new reports of registration fraud. However, the general concept of "Team Nevada" is being resurrected. This time, #1 G-O-TEA Sugar Daddy Sheldon Adelson is bankrolling a 501(c)4 called "Engage Nevada". It's technically a non-profit, but it's backed by top Dean Heller and Brian Sandoval operatives. Jon Ralston wrote about it this morning.

Chris Carr, a former state GOP executive director and Mitt Romney operative, has set up a non-profit called Engage Nevada to facilitate the effort. I have no doubt that the Sandoval/Heller machine is behind this as Carr has been recruited to helm the GOP ground game this cycle.

But Sandoval folks will keep their distance because this technically is a c4, which means it has to be nonpartisan and theoretically register all voters. But with Carr as the head and Adelson involved, this is a fig leaf. It's about as nonpartisan as Americans for Prosperity.

Said Sandoval/Heller guru Mike Slanker: "We are supportive of their work." I bet.

"Engage Nevada is a nonpartisan, non profit 501 (c) (4) organization. Its purpose is education and voter registration," the group's attorney, Dan Stewart, told me. "It registers for all parties and non-partisans. By law, it cannot push people to register a certain way; it must return all applications. Engage fully complies with all federal and state law."

They'd better. Otherwise, they will fall into the same hole that Nathan Sproul led "Team Nevada" into.

Again, so far I haven't heard any reports of fraud here. I have, on the other hand, heard some very familiar stories of "Engage Nevada" workers spouting off on Obamacare, taxes, and guns in front of the DMV. It remains to be seen just how "nonpartisan" this "nonpartisan non-profit" will be.

After all, Nevada Republicans are increasingly worrying about the warming NV-03 campaign. And they're still trying to increase their ranks in the Nevada Legislature. And they still don't trust their own party to deliver any goods. So now, they're (especially Sheldon Adelson) going all in for "Engage Nevada".

We'll see if they can teach an old "Team (Nevada)" new tricks.

Saving Face v. Saving Lives

Last week, we checked in on the very critical condition of Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital. The hospital was losing federal accreditation, and state mental health officials seemed resigned to accepting this fate. However, they've also been insisting that Rawson-Neal truly is cleaning up its act.

Ralston recently penned a blog on the forlorn state of Nevada mental health care. He spread blame all over the place. But ultimately, he did acknowledge these facts.

►You have heard the figure of $80 million being cut from the already spare mental health budget since 2007. That’s real. The number actually is $498.3 million, with a 19 percent reduction in force (364 positions).

►In 2009, 94 positions were eliminated at Rawson-Neal. In the 2010 special session, one of two satellite inpatient facilities in Southern Nevada was shuttered. In 2011, the other one was shut down, leaving Rawson-Neal as the only state-operated inpatient facility in the state. (All of this came amid declines in funding for medications and capital projects, too.)

►If you include all the money, including federal dollars, Southern Nevada Asdult Mental Health Services spent $173 million in the 2010-2011 biennium -- $13 million more than in the fiscal year just ending. Overall state mental health spending declined by about $34 million during the same period. (The good news: It is slated to increase by close to $30 million, if the administration request is approved, in the next biennium.)

You know what makes this sad story even sadder? That $30 million raise for mental health doesn't even reach 2009 levels. And Rawson-Neal was likely busing patients out of state then.

Last week, The Sacramento Bee (the paper that broke this scandal) released an editorial commenting on the sorry state of Nevada mental health care. Oh, and the paper had some choice words for Governor Brian Sandoval (R-Denial) and the Nevada Legislature.

As the story unfolded, Sandoval made much of Rawson-Neal's accreditation, proclaiming in April that "Rawson-Neal is safe, modern, and has a five-star accreditation."

However, Rawson-Neal received that accreditation in 2010, at a time when the hospital routinely bused patients. That raises questions about whether inspectors studied discharge plans or inquired what became of patients who were sent on their way with bus tickets and a few bottles of Ensure.

The Bee's Cynthia Hubert and Phillip Reese found eight former patients. Seven had no one waiting for them at bus depots when they arrived, and none had discharge treatment plans. One patient never made it to his destination. His whereabouts remain unknown.

Sandoval, Nevada's Legislature, and voters should be haunted by the question of what became of the other 1,492 patients. If Sandoval is uninterested in reconciliation, Democrats who control the Legislature should exercise oversight authority to determine the patients' fate.

This is the real tragedy. Whatever happened to those 1,492 other patients? Where did they go? Where are they now? And why are our state's "leaders" only trying to save face now?

Here's the problem. They're trying to save face. How about saving lives? That actually would have saved us all this money and time as well. That's the glaring irony of being penny wise and pound foolish.

Consequences (Are Here.)

It's back! In case you were wondering whatever happened to the patient dumping scandal, Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital is back in the news. Why? Oh, the scandal plagued hospital finally earned its long awaited federal demerit.

 State officials say they won't appeal an accrediting agency's low marks of a Las Vegas psychiatric hospital, saying they'd rather wait for the organization to take a fresh look at the much-scrutinized hospital.

Nevada health and human services chief Mike Willden says he's disappointed by the Joint Commission's decision last week to give Rawson-Neal a "preliminary denial of accreditation." The mark can be appealed, but indicates problems that would lead to loss of accreditation.

The designation was based on a May inspection that found the hospital out of compliance with standards including ones dealing with patient discharge procedures.

At least for now, the hospital will remain open and continue receiving federal Medicaid dollars. However, the hospital's future relationship with the feds will be in doubt without accreditation. And this may only be the beginning.

"It's a very big deal," said Troy Lair, CEO and president of The Compliance Doctor, a Los Angeles-based firm that consults with health organizations across the country on accreditation.

Private insurance companies generally will not pay for patient care in a hospital that is not accredited, Lair said. "They will not be able to see any type of private insurance patient," he said.

In a best case scenario, Lair said, it generally takes a hospital up to a year to regain accreditation. Many hospitals that lose accreditation end up closing. [...]

The hospital remains the subject of several outside probes. The city attorneys in Los Angeles and San Francisco are investigating whether Rawson-Neal has been systematically dumping patients across state lines for years. Last month, Sacramento civil rights lawyer Mark Merin filed a lawsuit seeking class-action status against Nevada and Rawson-Neal, contending the busing policy violated patients' constitutional rights.

Ouch. This is a big f**king deal. So why aren't we seeing more state "leaders" treat it as such?

Gov. Brian Sandoval (R-Denial) had to be shamed into even acknowledging the woes of Rawson-Neal. And he, along with quite a few others in Carson City, continues to ignore the consequences of failure to keep in place Nevada's social safety net.

We're now just beginning to pay the price. I just wonder what it will take for this state to fully change course. Can we truly afford more of the same?

Same Old Story (No More?)

It happened again last month. The same old story unfolded in the Nevada Legislature as another clusterf*ck of a Franken-budget was passed. As usual, the social safety net was left tattered as the big corporate power players were allowed to get away with tax evasion paying hardly anything.

And you know what? It's not helping our economy. In 2010, Nevada scored near the bottom of CNBC's business friendly state ratings. Oh, yes. That's right. Those "wild eyed socialists" at CNBCwere appalled by Nevada's lack of public infrastructure.

Recently, CNBC released new business friendly state ratings. And Nevada still ranks near rock bottom. CSN history professor and Vegas Seven contributor Michael Green has something to say about this.

Our economy ranks last. The low-tax climate [Governor Brian] Sandoval [R-Denial] and others praise doesn’t exist in Massachusetts or New York, but their unemployment rate is lower and their ranking here is higher.

Further, Nevada is rock-bottom in education. Set aside us liberal-arts types—the ones who teach students to read, write and think so they can prepare for any job. Numerous business leaders have expressed displeasure with the Nevada System of Higher Education, including the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce. If we are as innovative and entrepreneurial as we claim—Sandoval isn’t the only guilty party here, and it’s his job to hawk Nevada—why haven’t we come up with ways to fix that area other than inviting in overpriced “educational reformers”—hello, former state superintendent James Guthrie and ex-Clark County School District superintendent Dwight Jones—to try to impose their will? While Sandoval praises Tony Hsieh and other innovators, how many of their high-tech corporations originated here, built by people who were educated here?

Also, Nevada ranks near the bottom in “quality of life.” That’s a broad term. But while the innovative and entrepreneurial want a good business climate, they also tend to like good schools, especially ones at the forefront of training others to be innovative and entrepreneurial. They might even want to go to parks, theaters and museums, and have access to the best possible medical care.

These areas bore the brunt of our budget cuts and tax phobia. It’s all of a piece. And the usual Nevada solution is for the Legislature to make believe it will study the problem, for the governor’s office to keep cutting and for state government to hire high-priced, out-of-state consultants to tell us what to do—the same kinds of out-of-state people we attack as carpetbaggers who tell us we’re bad. Just like CNBC did.

It’s the same old story. Our public infrastructure is constantly underfunded. Our people are constantly shortchanged. And this keeps happening because real tax reform is constantly avoided.

Why must we keep reliving it? Actually, we don't have to. The solution is fast approaching. We the People just need to be willing to do what the powers that be in Carson City have so far failed to do.

Are we ready to finally close the book on this sad, same old story?

No More Names

It may be gone for now, but it's far from forgotten. When Governor Brian Sandoval (R-NRA) vetoed SB 221 last month, the gun lobby declared "Mission Accomplished". They did the same in April, when US Senator Dean Heller (R-NRA) joined in the Senate filibuster of (very) modest federal gun safety reform legislation.

What they failed to realize is that gun safety advocates refuse to give up. They want no more names. And that's why the Demand Action campaign and local activists gathered at Paradise Park today. They wanted to remember those who have recently died due to gun violence, and they were ready to call again for action to demand no more names are added to this list.








Yep, these people showed up at Paradise Park on a hot Monday morning. They baked under the sun... And sent a message to Nevada's Members of Congress, especially those who promised to take action but ultimately did not. (We're looking at you, Senator Heller and Rep. Joe Heck [R-???].)

And not only that, but a few Nevada legislators also showed up to ask Nevada's Members of Congress to do what Governor Sandoval refused to do. Assembly Member Ellen Spiegel (D-Henderson) began the rally by sharing her harrowing personal story of gun violence. She clearly had this in mind when she voted for SB 221. Why should other Nevadans face such unnecessary risk?




State Senator Justin Jones (D-Enterprise) also addressed the audience. He fought hard to pass SB 221. And against so many odds, it passed the full Legislature. But then, Governor Sandoval vetoed this bill to expand background checks for gun purchases. Senator Jones had choice words for Governor Sandoval, the gun lobby, and Nevada's Members of Congress who have yet to deliver on their promise to support the most basic of gun violence prevention measures.




And then, the group began reading names (of those who died due to gun violence). Ultimately, they were the reasons for today’s event. And they keep us asking why we allow this unbridled bloodshed to continue.

It happened at a "Congress on Your Corner" in Tucson. It happened at an IHOP in Carson City. It happened in a gated community in Sanford. It happened at a theater in Aurora. It happened at an elementary school in Newtown. It happened right here on the Las Vegas Strip. And it continues to happen all across the country.

Can we afford more? Do we want more names added to this roster?

Austerity & Apple

Early this week, leaders of the eight greatest developed economies met in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland (UK), for the G-8 Summit. At the G-8, President Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and others tackled a number of thorny issues, such as the ongoing civil war in Syria. Another major issue tackled this week was corporate tax evasion.

So what did everyone ultimately agree to?

Has the G8 made progress cracking down on multinationals playing off one regime against another to lower its tax bills?

The world leaders have called on the OECD, the body that draws up international guidelines on tax, to draft a template for multinationals to report the tax they pay to taxing authorities in each jurisdiction in which they operate. Cameron claims this will "identify where multinational companies are earning their profits and paying their taxes so we can track and expose those who aren't paying their fair share". Tax campaigners, however, suggest it does not go nearly far enough. There was no commitment for this information to be made public or for companies to provide greater disclosure on other economic activity on a country-by-country basis.

What about closing loopholes in international tax rules exploited by firms such as Google, Apple and Amazon?

Several issues around taxing multinationals are being worked on furiously by the OECD before a wider G20 meeting of finance ministers next month. The G8 promised to "take the necessary individual and collective action" to back up any recommendations from recasting the rules. As a broad statement of intent the G8 leaders said: "Countries should change rules that let companies shift their profits across borders to avoid taxes."

So G-8 leaders agreed to share more information. Otherwise, they mostly just agreed they and other countries "should do something" on corporate tax evasion. We'll see how far this goes.

But hey, at least they acted embarrassed over this. Here in Nevada, however, our state and local governments have rewarded Apple's "unbelievable chutzpah" by showering the multinational corporation with corporate welfare! Even as the rest of the world has become increasingly outraged over Apple stiffing public coffers by exploiting as maby tax loopholes as possible, Governor Brian Sandoval keeps heralding Apple's corporate welfare as "economic development".

But really, is that true? Does Nevada truly benefit from rewarding companies that come here just to avoid paying taxes elsewhere? When did crippling austerity become "economic development"?

Think about it. There's a reason why G-8 leaders were shamed into bringing up corporate tax evasion. While these powerful multinational, multi-billion dollar companies come to Nevada and go elsewhere to avoid paying their bills, real people are suffering the consequences of austerity. Since they don't pay their fair share, we're paying for their sins instead.

Can we afford any more of this?

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.

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.

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?

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?

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?

86% Matters

That was fast. Just moments ago, the Assembly finally passed SB 221. The final vote was 23-19. Assembly Democrats James Ohrenschall (D-Sunrise Manor), Richard Carrillo (D-Paradise), Skip Daly (D-Sparks), and Mike Sprinkle (D-Sparks) joined all Assembly Republicans in voting against the bill to expand background checks for firearms purchases, but there were ultimately still enough Democratic votes to pass it.

So now, the bill is heading to Governor Brian Sandoval's (R-NRA) desk. And he continues threatening to veto the bill. So now, the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Demand Action campaign is fighting back and taking to the airwaves (again).





Keep in mind that the policy of expanding background checks for gun purchases has 86% support here in Nevada. And it's officially passed the full Nevada Legislature today. ProgressNow Nevada made sure to remind everyone of both important facts.

“Today the Nevada Legislature showed courage and leadership by passing SB 221, which will require common sense background checks to be performed on almost all gun sales in Nevada.

Some people don’t know this, but right now in Nevada someone with a criminal record can go to a gun show and legally buy as many guns as they want without passing a background check. Most people think that type of sale is already illegal, but it’s not. SB 221 will make our communities safer by closing that loophole and requiring a background check for this and other types of private purchases.

We must now turn to Governor Sandoval to see if he will stand with the 86 percent of Nevadans who support a stronger background check system or if he will stand with the extreme right-wing element that opposes it.”

So do Governor Sandoval and the legislators who voted against SB 221 really want to continue this? Without universal background checks, this happens in Nevada, too.





The weapons purchased at these gun shows and online are then used in crimes here in Nevada. These weapons are also smuggled into states (like California) with stricter state level gun laws. And as long as Congress fails to act on a national background checks law, criminals will continue to enjoy easy access to weapons here in Nevada.

Is this what we really want? No, it's not... At least not for 86% of us. So does Governor Sandoval really want to ignore 86% of his constituents? Does he actually want to send the message that he prioritizes the NRA seal of approval over the safety of all Nevadans?