Anjeanette Damon

Senior Editor/politics

Anjeanette isn't technically a native Nevadan but is about as close as you can get in this transient state. Raised and educated in Reno, she pursued journalism not just to escape math class but also for the love of challenging authority. She's worked in newspapers since 1998, joining the Sun in 2010.

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The success and failure of the Nevada Legislature's four new leaders: Sunday, June 9, 2013; For the first time in recent history, four party leaders who had never experienced a leadership position ran the Nevada Legislature. Each had ups and downs: Democrats stuck together to push through a progressive agenda while Republicans stayed united enough to block a significant tax increase and hand Gov. Brian Sandoval his $6.6 billion budget largely intact.
Failure to pass More Cops bill forces Legislature into special session: Tuesday, June 4, 2013; In a twist of political irony, Gov. Brian Sandoval, who has vowed to not raise taxes, called a short special session early Tuesday to do just that.
Despite their majority, Democrats trumped by Sandoval on budget but pleased overall with session: Tuesday, June 4, 2013; After handing Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval a budget that funds nearly all of his priorities, some in the Democratic majority consoled themselves with one mantra: This is the most progressive Legislature in history.
Legislators run out of time, opening door for special session: Tuesday, June 4, 2013; The final day of the Legislature ended in as hectic a manner as it began. When the clock struck midnight, some bills survived. Many didn’t, leaving Gov. Brian Sandoval to call a special session.
Gun background check bill sees new life: Monday, June 3, 2013; After an intense lobbying effort by both Nevada and national advocates, a bill to require background checks on private party gun sales was brought back from the brink of death today.
Medical marijuana dispensary bill passes Assembly on party line vote: Monday, June 3, 2013; After a malfunctioning reader board threw its future into question, a bill that would create a legal medical marijuana dispensary system in Nevada passed the Assembly in a nearly party-line vote.
Gaming industry wins the day at Nevada Legislature: Monday, June 3, 2013; The state’s most powerful industry is poised to come out of this legislative session the victor in a number of key battles that it asked lawmakers and Gov. Brian Sandoval to broker for them. “So far, it’s been an OK session,” a leading gaming lobbyist said.
Kirkpatrick's second attempt at entertainment tax stalls: Sunday, June 2, 2013; An hour-long hearing Sunday on Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick's second attempt to clean up the live entertainment tax left some lawmakers questioning why the time was spent on a bill that the Legislature has no appetite to pass. Even Kirkpatrick acknowledged the likelihood, vowing to bring the effort back next session.
As Legislature winds to a close, a look at its dramatic moments: Sunday, June 2, 2013; After the 2013 Legislature whispers its way to a close Monday, it will not be known as a session of the dramatic tax fight. But as tame as this session has seemed compared with past sessions, it hasn’t been without its moments of drama.
Senator's gravely ill husband throws control of Senate into question: Saturday, June 1, 2013; Sen. Joyce Woodhouse, D-Las Vegas, flew home to Las Vegas late Friday to be with her husband, who is gravely ill with liver cancer, making control of the Senate an issue in the final days of the legislative session.
Last-minute budget negotiations become contentious in final legislative days: Saturday, June 1, 2013; Negotiations over Gov. Brian Sandoval’s $6.5 billion proposed budget entered into their final frenzied hours Friday, as lawmakers rushed to put their own mark on the state’s two-year spending plan before the session officially adjourns Monday.
Sandoval signs bill creating drivers privilege cards for immigrants: Friday, May 31, 2013; Gov. Brian Sandoval today signed into law a bill that will create drivers privilege cards for immigrants in the country illegally.
Sandoval defends Public Utilities Commission after Reid's criticism: Wednesday, May 29, 2013; Gov. Brian Sandoval on Wednesday defended the Public Utilities Commission — a regulatory panel he appoints — after U.S. Sen. Harry Reid described it as a "little bureaucracy" with too much power over the energy market in Nevada.
Harry Reid lambastes PUC for standing in the way of NV Energy bill: Wednesday, May 29, 2013; U.S. Sen. Harry Reid lambasted the Nevada Public Utilities Commission this week, accusing the energy regulators of trying to scuttle a bill before the state Legislature that would require NV Energy to stop using coal to produce electricity.
Reid says he's 'sorry' Whittemore is facing trial on campaign finance violations: Tuesday, May 28, 2013; U.S. Sen. Harry Reid said Tuesday he was surprised he wasn’t called to testify in the trial of former lobbyist and real estate mogul Harvey Whittemore, who is accused of illegally funneling $133,000 in contributions to Reid’s 2010 campaign.
Harry Reid says abuse of filibuster must end: Tuesday, May 28, 2013; U.S. Sen. Harry Reid today renewed his threat to go after filibuster rules that have hindered President Barack Obama’s cabinet appointments, but don’t expect him to back eliminating the filibuster when it comes to legislation.
Tax Commission ratifies $233 million settlement in casino comped meals lawsuit: Tuesday, May 28, 2013; The Nevada Tax Commission signed off on a $233 million settlement with the state's largest casino resorts to free them from paying sales taxes on the comped meals they provide their patrons and employees in exchange for the resorts dropping their lawsuit seeking a refund on back taxes they've already paid.
Tax Commission to review settlement agreement on $350 million comped meal dispute: Monday, May 27, 2013; The Nevada Tax Commission has called a special meeting Tuesday to review a last minute deal to settle a $350 million tax dispute on whether casinos should pay taxes on the free meals they give their employees and patrons.
Bill to expand background checks for gun purchases passes Nevada Senate: Wednesday, May 22, 2013; In a party line vote following an emotional floor debate, the Nevada Senate today passed a measure that would expand background check requirements to private party firearm sales.
Senate passes bill to replace NV Energy coal plants: Wednesday, May 22, 2013; A measure that would require Nevada's largest electricity provider to accelerate the closure of its coal-fired power plants and launch massive new construction projects to replace the coal plants with renewable energy and natural gas passed the Nevada Senate unanimously today.
Democrats cry uncle on taxes, accuse Republicans of obstruction: Wednesday, May 22, 2013; If there’s one promise Democrats have kept so far this session, it’s to have a discussion about taxes. But with the majority party’s capitulation on the Senate floor Tuesday that their payroll tax hike proposal is dead, it appears that discussion is all it’s going to be.
Senate Democrats give up on payroll tax hike to help schools: Tuesday, May 21, 2013; Running up against the reality of a powerful Republican minority, Senate Democrats on Tuesday gave up on their push for new taxes to fund education programs they've argued all session are critical to fund.
Bill closing gun background check loophole advances at Nevada Legislature: Tuesday, May 21, 2013; Moments after a cadre of gun control advocates who lost family members in mass shootings arrived in Carson City, the Senate Finance Committee passed SB 211 in a party line vote. It now heads to the Senate floor, where it almost certainly will face a pitched partisan battle.
Legislature might get messy near the end: Sunday, May 19, 2013; The Nevada Legislature has reached the point in every session when lawmakers, lobbyists and reporters ask: Is it going to end on time? And the answer always is: Maybe.
Few big tax bills afoot, but plenty of little ones at Nevada Legislature: Sunday, May 19, 2013; Democrats may have fallen short of crafting a comprehensive tax reform plan to address Nevada’s wobbly revenue structure, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a bevy bills to raise taxes floating around the Legislature this year.
Bills live and die on deadline day in Carson City: Saturday, May 18, 2013; The legislative grim reaper struck again Friday as the Nevada Legislature hit yet another milestone on the 120-day march to its finish.
Deal reached to preserve bistate compact protecting Lake Tahoe: Wednesday, May 15, 2013; Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and California Gov. Jerry Brown have reached an agreement to keep the two states in a decades old compact to protect the environment around Lake Tahoe, agreeing to ease some barriers for development and mollifying the concerns of some environmentalists.
Democrats circle the wagons against 'Family Fun Tax' foes: Wednesday, May 15, 2013; Democratic lawmakers showed little restraint when opponents of Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick’s admissions tax took to the microphone Tuesday to beg for exemptions to the 8 percent levy she wants to assess on nearly all forms of recreation.
Electric Daisy Carnival, Speedway to fight proposed entertainment tax: Tuesday, May 14, 2013; Assembly Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas, is expected to take critics head on today at the first public hearing of her proposed entertainment and admissions tax, an 8 percent levy on everything from concerts and sporting events to gym memberships and strip clubs. Chief among them is the Electric Daisy Carnival, the massive outdoor music festival that draws an estimated 345,000 attendees to Las Vegas each summer.
With time running out, Democrats' tax plans spark partisan firefight: Tuesday, May 14, 2013; When Senate Democrats on Monday released details of a tax increase they say is needed to adequately fund education, they swung a partisan hammer that shattered the patina of cooperation that had dominated this legislative session.
Denis plows forward with recycling bill: Friday, May 10, 2013; Responding to critics, Senate Majority Leader Mo Denis has amended his construction material recycling bill to protect smaller centers that could have been put out of business by the original version of his proposed legislation.
Nevada Democrats seek 'help' for Nic Cage: Friday, May 10, 2013; Nevada Democrats sent a blast email to supporters with headline "Help us help Nicolas Cage!" in an attempt to garner support for a tax incentive for movie production in Nevada.
Tax movies, strip clubs, gyms? That's Nevada legislator's proposal: Thursday, May 9, 2013; On Wednesday, Kirkpatrick released a sweeping entertainment and admissions tax proposal — the centerpiece of her effort to clean up a Nevada tax code rife with exemptions and haphazardly applied interpretations.
Speaker Kirkpatrick introduces entertainment tax bill: Wednesday, May 8, 2013; Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas, today introduced a long-awaited measure to implement a new entertainment tax on everything from movies to strip clubs.
Nicolas Cage says filmmakers would love to shoot in Nevada: Tuesday, May 7, 2013; Movie star Nicolas Cage traveled to Carson City today to urge state lawmakers to pass a movie tax incentive bill, promising to use his connections in the industry to help spark a filmmaking boom in Nevada if the measure becomes law. “My name is Nicolas Cage, and I’m an American filmmaker,” Cage told lawmakers on the Senate Finance Committee, who put away their laptops and phones to listen to his testimony.
Are diehard anti-tax conservatives shrinking at the Nevada Legislature?: Sunday, May 5, 2013; The tax-pledge-signing, Tea Party-espousing, anti-tax Republican crusader appears to be a dying breed in the Nevada Legislature, though some hope to halt its decline. One politician says Republicans these days try to take a more nuanced approach to fiscal policy.
Casino mogul Steve Wynn makes rare trip to Carson City to meet with lawmakers: Wednesday, May 1, 2013; Casino mogul Steve Wynn met with legislative leaders today to "share insight" into what he called a slow recovery of the gaming industry at a time the Legislature is poised to consider new taxes.
Improper discharges of psychiatric patients result in terminations at state hospital: Monday, April 29, 2013; A review of 1,500 cases of busing a discharged psychiatric patient out of state has resulted in additional disciplinary action and employee terminations at the state psychiatric hospital in Las Vegas.
Senate leader's former employer would benefit from his legislative pitch: Sunday, April 28, 2013; Senate Majority Leader Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas, has authored two bills — Senate Bills 315 and 316 — that would directly benefit the company that employed him up until the start of the legislative session this year.
Tyrone Thompson sworn in to replace ousted assemblyman: Wednesday, April 24, 2013; Tyrone Thompson was sworn in today to represent Assembly District 17, which has been vacant since the Assembly ousted former lawmaker Steven Brooks.
Six Republicans propose doubling Nevada's mining tax: Wednesday, April 24, 2013; Six Senate Republicans today unveiled their plan to double the net proceeds on minerals tax, a proposal, that if approved by voters, would net an estimated $600 million that would be earmarked for education.
Which bills made the cut in the Nevada Legislature? Here are the biggest: Wednesday, April 24, 2013; Tuesday was a big day for scores of bills in the Nevada Legislature — a day when measures died or traveled to the opposite house, where they may encounter more hostile territory for their second round of hearings.
Roberson to unveil details of mining tax proposal: Tuesday, April 23, 2013; Senate Minority Leader Michael Roberson plans to unveil the details of a mining tax proposal he hopes to put on the ballot as an alternative to the margins tax initiative.
Sandoval decries improper patient discharge from Vegas psychiatric hospital: Tuesday, April 23, 2013; In his first official reaction to an ongoing investigation into whether the state's psychiatric hospital is routinely busing mentally ill patients out of state, Gov. Brian Sandoval said his administration took immediate action to address the situation, but downplayed any suggestion the state has a systemic problem on its hands.
Services tax is dead; Democrats' hopes for major tax reform dim: Tuesday, April 23, 2013; With just 41 days left in the legislative session, Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas, said any effort to pass a services tax is finished and sounded less than optimistic about the chances of any kind of broad-based business tax making it to a vote.
In split vote, Nevada Senate passes measure to begin repeal of gay marriage ban: Monday, April 22, 2013; Following more than an hour of a riveting, emotional and personal floor debate, the Nevada Senate voted 12-9 to start the process of repealing the gay marriage ban from the state constitution.
Policy change in 2009 prompted increase in busing mentally ill patients: Saturday, April 20, 2013; Since a mentally ill man from Las Vegas turned up in Sacramento on a Greyhound bus earlier this year, the state’s health department has disciplined employees involved in the man’s release, changed hospital policy and asked for a federal review of their practices.
Coal politics: Why legislative power play could halt big NV Energy plan: Tuesday, April 16, 2013; NV Energy’s powerful lobbying corps has quietly tried to muster wide support for a major energy proposal at the Legislature, but the choreographed show it hoped to premiere to legislators didn’t go quite as planned.
Another top staffer leaves Nevada governor's office: Friday, April 12, 2013; Gov. Brian Sandoval's general counsel and policy director Lucas Foletta resigned today. He is the latest in a string of top staff departures from Sandoval's office.
Controversial Tahoe bill highlights lobbyist's dual role: Thursday, April 11, 2013; Lobbyist Steve Robinson is a Nevada appointee to the Tahoe Regional Protection Agency board. He also works for the lobbying firm hired to pass legislation that could end up abolishing the agency altogether.