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StumbleMo Denis, target of suit challenging public employees in Legislature, leaving job with state
Published Monday, Dec. 19, 2011 | 5:03 p.m.
Updated Monday, Dec. 19, 2011 | 5:42 p.m.
Mo Denis
CARSON -- The leader of state Senate Democrats will resign from his job with the Nevada Public Utilities Commission, potentially nullifying a lawsuit challenging his positions in the executive and legislative branches of state government.
Sen. Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas, has found a new job in the private sector and will resign effective Dec. 28, he said. He said he had been looking for a new job with more flexibility months ago, and the move was unrelated to the lawsuit from conservative think tank Nevada Policy Research Institute.
"It became apparent I'd have more responsibility with my work in the state Senate," he said. The lawsuit "wasn't even on the radar."
He would not give details of his new job, other than to say it's in the private sector and in information technology. Denis worked for the state for 17 years.
The conservative group filed a lawsuit in Carson City District Court last month aimed at Denis. It argues that the Nevada Constitution clearly delineates powers between the three branches of government, and that Denis' job in information technology for the state regulatory body violated that.
Underneath it all, though, is a longheld belief among conservatives that public employees, including firefighters and teachers, should not be making policy and passing budgets, which decide things like tax policy and public spending.
Denis said he was served with the lawsuit today.
NPRI said in a statement Denis’ resignation “is a de facto acknowledgement that he recognizes that he has been violating the separation-of-powers clause.” The think tank is evaluating its legal options, Joseph Becker, chief legal officer and director of NPRI’s Center for Justice and Litigation, said in the statement.
The Clark County Democratic Party said in a statement that it was “disheartened” by Denis’ decision to leave his job “instead of fighting for himself and his legislative colleagues whom NPRI will target next.”
There are 10 public employees serving as lawmakers, eight Democrats and two Republicans. All except for Denis work for local governments.
Discussion: 3 comments so far…
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I find it ironic the State employee resigns and he is not the one with the over inflated salary. Why doesn't NPRI go after the nonsense of collective bargaining for ONLY county and city workers. How many county and city workers make more than the Governor, who is responsible for the State budget.
Hey Schwartz, How about doing a nice Christmas story on the 50 pages of County and City workers that make more than the true State employees. The higher ed and counties have fleeced this State for years and stuck it to the State workers for years. Hold everyone to the same standard and then you can begin to control the budget. Until then, everything is just smoke, mirrors and who has the best paid lobbyist.
Mo is a failed experiment. Horsford please reconsider going and wasting your talents in DC. We need leadership! Paging a real leader.... Senator Lee or Senator Parks please pick up. NO MORE MO.
As a loyal Democrat, I am frustrated when our leadership rolls over at nearly every opportunity. I expect my leaders to stand up for themselves and others. If Sen. Denis can't stand up to NPRI, how will he handle standing up to the Governor or the GOP in the State Senate? That line about looking for a job in the private sector to have more time? A load of crap. I'm not aware of ANY private company that will afford Sen. Denis more time to work on legislative business.
Sen. Denis - time to step aside and let the big boys lead.
I have a couple of problems with NPRI and this unfair lawsuit This lawsuit is about limiting government employees from participating in the legislature because of the budget?
As a school teacher, I want to see the legislature full of people who work in a variety of positions. It's only fair for the teachers to be represented too. I'm not allowed to participate as a citizen in the government because I teach school? That is biased. I have the right to run for any office I want - and not be discriminated against because I'm a school teacher. My job should not limit me - while also giving an unfair advantage to someone else who is NOT a school teacher. For real?
So NPRI would only like to see businessmen - perhaps lobbyists - in legislative positions? Maybe they could just hire someone with their big money to run our state for us? I'm sure they would love it. NPRI doesn't seem to see anything wrong with the the amount of money that mining or gaming or the Chamber of Commerce spends in Carson City. It targets a person's job? I have a problem with the big money buying influence in Carson City - I'm not worried about where they work. I'm worried about lobbyists going into rooms with legislators with canned ALEC prepared legislation and making it law in our state. Once again this biased and corporate backed organization shows it favors money only and not community building or society in general.
It's not American. Last I knew - we still vote. We consider a person's character, job, and everything else when we ELECT THEM.
I'm getting a little tired of this "charitable" organization -which receives money from people like Sheldon Addelson the 5th richest man in America and the Koch Brothers who fund conservative corporate friendly legislation all over America . . . continuously pointing its evil pointy finger at teachers and other hard-working public servants.
How did NPRI's budget get to be funded at over one million dollars this last legislative session? Only a certain amount of their money and time is supposed to be spent on lobbying? They are a charity? Seems suspect. They seem to have a lot of money to sue legislators - how do they get those funds - are they "charitable" donations?
It's pretty easy for these full-time conservative corporate bought NPRI lobbyists to sit around in their offices and point out the "fatal" flaws of people working full-time at their real jobs and participating in government as a service to the community. Must be nice to just have one full-time job - instead of work two, like teachers or Mo Denis must hold to participate in the legislature.
Do we really need conservatives in a think tank far far away in Washington DC writing our legislation, determining who participates in our Nevada government, and damaging our schools? Time to tell NPRI, ALEC, and all these imported conservative outsiders to get out of our state. The people of Nevada don't need outsiders deciding for us.
Let us, the people of Nevada, vote for the best candidate - regardless of where they work.
Dang! Billy V didn't waste time to get Mo a sweet gig.
PS - He didn't resign in light of the NPRI lawsuit...MY ASS!!!
Voters need to recognize that any public employees who serve in the Legislature are out of touch with reality of what hard work is. Until we replace these bureaucrats with real workers, the only solution they will give is "Raise Taxes"
Great move. The job was probably a pain, time to get full time with the program. I often wonder how anyone can maintain a full time business or job and have time left over to serve their constituents.
Mo Denis will now be able to focus full time on the issues. I want to thank the NPRI for bringing Mo into full time political activation. Their lawsuit strategy backfired again, similar to their solutions for Nevada Government.
As usual SunJon you missed the point. We are sick of cowardly democrats like Mo and don't want him as our leader! I am a lifelong democrat and believe self-interested leaders like Mo are what is wrong with our party. If Mo's private sector job lets him "focus full time" on the issues you have to wonder what this mystery employer is paying for- not computer repair? Thanks for standing up like a man Mo. Just switch parties already we all know you are not a real democrat.