This Is Our Future.

Yesterday was the first day of school for Clark County School District (CCSD). We actually stopped by Gibson Elementary School in Henderson to check out the scene. We also stopped by there to hear local residents who had something to say about The Education Initiative (TEI).



We've heard plenty in recent days from the usual suspects screaming "DOOM!" over TEI every chance they find. They've even suppressed data showing how TEI can help Nevada's economy grow.

They can go ahead and continue suppressing UNLV studies. They can't, however, suppress local business owners like Ron Nelsen. He's the owner of Pioneer Overhead Door, and he's anything but afraid of TEI.



Electra McGrath is actually looking forward to TEI. She's a parent of a CCSD student. And her neighbors send their children to CCSD schools. Unlike TEI's well heeled opponents, Electra and her neighbors actually live the reality of public education in Nevada. This is why Electra supports TEI.



For far too long, we've heard endless rhetoric from Carson City followed by the constant lack of results. This is why Nevada schools are "grossly underfunded". And this is why grassroots education activists drew the paperwork for TEI.



At Gibson Elementary School, we caught a glimpse of Nevada's future. We noticed all the potential waiting at Leisure Circle. And we couldn't help but think of how much more potential could be realized if we were to just invest in schools like Gibson.

This is our future. These kids are our future. Why shouldn't we actually invest in our future? TEI's opponents can suppress economic studies, but they can't suppress this potential for a better future.

Match the Words With Action

It seems to be the never ending tragedy. Every day, seven children die from gun violence. That's why the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Demand Action campaign and local OFA volunteers paid a visit to Senator Dean Heller's Southern Nevada office in the Southwest Vegas Valley.





In April, Senator Dean Heller (R-NRA) actually filibustered rather modest gun safety legislation. The background checks provision was actually designed by two Senators with NRA "A" ratings! Yet despite that and the overwhelming support among Nevadans for expanding background checks for gun purchases, he nonetheless took the gun lobby's bait.

Yet since then, Senator Heller has occasionally spun his filibustering of even the most modest gun safety reform as "supporting expanded background checks". Yep, he's actually tried to spin away his own record. And he seems to be inspiring Rep. Joe Heck's take on gun safety.

This is why two local gun owners asked Senator Heller to finally match his words with action. Ron Nelsen and Bob Cavazos both have experience with guns. And they both explained how rights come with responsibilities.



Tyron Boldon also spoke. He wanted to relay to Senator Heller the same message he gave to Rep. Heck last month. He lost his brother to a horrific outburst of gun violence on the Las Vegas Strip. How many more Nevadans must lose loved ones to such senseless brutality?



Newtown, Connecticut, parent Neil Heflin also spoke up today. He lost his son, Jesse, in the Sandy Hook Massacre. He knows all too well what happens when dangerous weapons fall into the wrong hands. That's why he urged Senator Heller to match his words with action on gun safety.



After the speeches outside, everyone went inside to deliver constituent petitions to Senator Heller. Staff would not let them in the office. How nice (not).







This issue may not always be in the headlines, but it's far from over. As long as people keep dying from senseless gun violence, this issue will still be awaiting actual action from Congress. When will Senator Heller be ready to match his words with action?

Who's Afraid of Affordable Health Care?

Here we go again. Rep. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) is again making headlines. But this time, there's a twist.

Remember when we discussed the push-back that Congressional Republicans were starting to get over their knee-jerk obstruction over Obamacare (aka the Affordable Care Act, or ACA)? Last week, it was Rep. Heck's turn. At a last-minute town hall meeting in Sandy Valley, NV-03 resident and small business owner Ron Nelsen directly confronted Rep. Heck over his opposition to the ACA. Mr. Nelsen explained how the ACA is saving his business money while also ensuring his employees have access to the health care they need, but Rep. Heck didn't seem all that interested in the facts.



All Rep. Heck could say was that there were a lot of pages in the ACA. Ummm... OK?! He does realize this law offers many long awaited reforms to the nation's health care system, doesn’t he?

Oh, and he claimed that "Republicans never had a chance to offer an alternative". Really? In order to offer an alternative, they must have one to offer. And Rep. Heck conveniently forgot that ACA/Obamacare is largely based on the conservative/Republican alternative to "Hillarycare"!

But alas, the very Heritage Foundation that laid the intellectual foundation for Obamacare is now on a kamikaze mission to destroy the Affordable Care Act while also crashing the global economy. So of course, Rep. Heck must now act like Obamacare is so awful and terrible and "COM'U'NIZMM!!!" and "UN'MUR'KIN!!!" And when confronted with reality, he must conjure up some excuse to dismiss it.

And of course, Rep. Heck and other G-O-TEA acolytes must continue in their efforts to kill Obamacare with their toxic TEA. After all, if it's allowed to work, they will receive none of the credit. And that's what actually scares them.

Yep, this is why Rep. Heck is afraid of affordable health care.