Politics - Las Vegas Sun

Who killed campaign ﬁnance reform this time?: State Government: Lawmakers stopped just short of opening reporting process ranked among nation’s least transparent; Mon, Jul 6, 2009 (2 a.m.); By David McGrath Schwartz; Nevada’s campaign finance laws are written to favor incumbents and the special interests that fund them — and that won’t change any time soon. Let’s say a candidate is weighing a run against an incumbent and wants to know how much money the office-holder has.

Just like Dad, school official says ‘turn off that light’: LOOKING IN ON: EDUCATION: Energy manager going further, pushing for all appliances to be unplugged for July; Monday, July 6, 2009; By Emily Richmond; Last week the Clark County School District made a frantic push to turn off every possible light, appliance and air conditioner at its hundreds of nine-month campuses, shutting them down entirely for the month of July.

Judge detours cabbies’ drive for minimum wage: Daily Memo: ECONOMY: Drivers can pursue federal claims, but may find that road dead-ends; Monday, July 6, 2009; By Liz Benston; Nevada’s minimum wage increased this month, entitling workers to receive at least $5.85 per hour, or $7.55 for workers whose employers don’t offer health insurance plans that qualify under state law. That is, unless you drive a limo or taxi.

Ensign’s pal lacked usual qualifications for top job: THE SENATOR’S SCANDAL :; Sunday, July 5, 2009; By J. Patrick Coolican, Torey Van Oot; When Sen. John Ensign hired Doug Hampton to be his senior aide in November 2006, Nevada Republicans were baffled. Hampton was an unknown, without a policy profile or political experience.

Local conservative radio talk reflects right’s downcast state: POLITICAL MEMO:; Sunday, July 5, 2009; By J. Patrick Coolican; One might expect Heidi Harris, as a conservative talk show host, to be filled with fire and fury, given the liberal ascendancy and Age of Obama. But she was unwilling to engage in the apocalyptic rhetoric heard in other quarters.

Reid has his 60, but probably not a legislative lock: LETTER FROM WASHINGTON: Democrats can end filibusters — if they’re all present and united; Sunday, July 5, 2009; By Lisa Mascaro; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is tamping down expectations for the new Deomcratic supermajority he now heads in the Senate. His 60 votes, he reasoned, are on paper only.

Popular in their cities, could Reno or Las Vegas mayor be governor?: Saturday, July 4, 2009; By David McGrath Schwartz; Nevada’s two most colorful mayors, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and Reno Mayor Bob Cashell, met a couple of weeks ago for a talk. After hours together in Goodman’s office, they emerged to give supporters a similar account of the meeting: If one is in, the other guy will support him.

Palin links resignation to 'higher calling': Politics:; Friday, July 3, 2009; Associated Press; Outgoing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Saturday laid the groundwork to take on a larger, national role after leaving state government, citing a "higher calling" with the aim of uniting the country along conservative lines.

A boost for DesertXpress: TRANSPORTATION: Reid uses corridor designation to show backing for private project; Friday, July 3, 2009; By Lisa Mascaro, Stephanie Tavares; Nowhere on the official documents from Thursday’s announcement of a new high-speed rail corridor between Las Vegas and Los Angeles is the proposed DesertXpress featured as the preferred project. But make no mistake: DesertXpress is the chosen one, at least for now.

Director of state ethics commission resigns: carson city:; Thursday, July 2, 2009; By Cy Ryan; CARSON CITY – Patti Cafferata, who has held a number of elective offices and has the record of losing both to Gov. Jim Gibbons and his estranged wife in political races, has resigned as executive director of the Nevada Ethics Commission.

Path clears for federal support of fast train to California: transportation: Transportation chief will announce key designation for Las Vegas route today; Thursday, July 2, 2009; By Lisa Mascaro; The U.S. Transportation secretary will announce today designation of a Las Vegas-California high-speed-rail corridor, enabling the train route to compete for $8 billion in economic recovery money and other support, the Las Vegas Sun has learned.

Love it or hate it, climate change bill heads to Senate: WASHINGTON POLITICS: As legislation squeezed through House, partisan divide showed; Thursday, July 2, 2009; By Lisa Mascaro; The rowdy House floor debate on climate change provided one of those moments of political theater when it is hard to know whether the warring sides are even talking about the same bill.

Reid, Titus, Horsford: Green energy means more Nevada jobs: economy:; Tuesday, June 30, 2009; By Jinae West; Nevada elected officials and local business leaders met today with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to discuss the Silver State’s future as a green state and to brainstorm ways to create more jobs through energy efficiency during a meeting of Reid’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Energy at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve.

Board extends coverage to domestic partners of state employees: Tuesday, June 30, 2009; By Cy Ryan; CARSON CITY – By a 5-3 vote, the board that governs the state health insurance system has agreed to extend coverage to domestic partners of government and university system employees.

Residents in Henderson, NLV vie for city council appointments: suburbs:; Tuesday, June 30, 2009; By Jeff Pope, Jeremy Twitchell; The Henderson City Clerk’s office has certified 16 residents who filed interest statements for the appointment to fill the final two years of newly elected Mayor Andy Hafen’s Ward 2 council seat.

Email Newsletters

Inauguration 2009: See stories, videos, photos and blogs about the inauguration of President Barack Obama on Jan. 20, 2009.
General Election 2008: See stories, blogs, slideshows, videos, an interactive map and results from the Nov. 4, 2008, general election.
2008 Election Guide:: Get information on the candidates, the issues and about voting in the Nov. 4 election.
Winning the West:: On the way to the conventions, the Sun has gone on the road to listen to voters and political leaders around the West.
2008 August Primary:: Apathy, sad to say, ruled the day. On Tuesday only about one of every seven registered voters in Clark County bothered to cast a ballot in the primary election.

No Internet? No problem for Goodman: Mayor Goodman is wondering if his wife, Carolyn, uses Twitter. Maybe he should start following her.

Titus pushes for equity changes under Obama housing plan: Democratic Rep. Dina Titus continues her campaign to change the mortgage equity requirements for homeowners wishing to refinance under Obama’s housing plan, seeing an opening ...

Reid, Salazar announcing solar plans in Las Vegas: WASHINGTON -- Greetings, Early Liners. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will join Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid this morning in Las Vegas to announce solar energy ...