David McGrath Schwartz

Stories

Gaming industry uses clout to fight tax increases: Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013; Gaming walks around the Nevada Legislature like the big strutting rooster, the whale in Nevada’s political swimming pool. Because it is. And with good reason. While other states and countries charge much higher fees on gambling and even collect more in taxes, Nevada’s casino-resort industry pays or collects 46 percent of the state’s general fund, by its own measure. It’s a huge portion of the state’s funding, by just about anyone’s measure.
Brooks attempted to buy gun in Sparks; officials reviewing whether to approve sale: Friday, Feb. 22, 2013; Troubled Assemblyman Steven Brooks tried to buy a gun at a Sparks sporting goods store Thursday. The Nevada Department of Public Safety is conducting a background check to determine whether to approve the sale.
Washoe County schools seeks end run around supermajority rule for taxes: Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013; A Washoe County school maintenance funding bill could reshape the legislative tax debate this year, providing a potential roadmap to circumventing the requirement that a two-thirds majority of lawmakers pass tax increases.
Reid on 2016 re-election bid: 'Sure, why not?': Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013; Senator Harry Reid said he would run for re-election in 2016, even as he praised the most potent potential Republican contender.
Addressing Legislature, Reid lauds Sandoval, touts renewable energy: Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid praised Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval, dissed a Democratic rising star’s bill and called on the Legislature to go after NV Energy to spur renewable energy projects in a speech Wednesday to the Nevada Legislature.
Sandoval's energy office seeks to expand green building tax rebate program: Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013; The state’s office of energy wants Nevada lawmakers to expand a property tax rebate program for green buildings, allowing rehabilitation projects of older buildings to qualify for the tax break.
Nevada lawmakers hold policy hearings in private: Friday, Feb. 15, 2013; In a glaring example of how much of the public’s business gets heard in private, Democratic lawmakers met behind closed doors with lobbyists from both sides of the construction defect debate on Thursday night.
Police presence doubled, panic buttons installed at Legislature in wake of Brooks saga: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013; Panic buttons have been installed on some desks at the Nevada Legislature and the number of police officers patrolling the third floor of the building have doubled to monitor Assemblyman Steven Brooks.
Twitter debates: Do Nevada lawmakers make McDonald's wages?: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013; Assemblyman Steven Brooks, D-North Las Vegas, said Friday — before he was arrested a second time — that he would take a three-week leave of absence from the Legislature to deal with a medical condition. During that time, he will get
his salary and per diem, legislative staff said Monday. Fair or not? A debate on that very subject broke out on Twitter last week.
Beware of unintended consequences as Legislature begins work: Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013; Some months after Nevada legislators have packed up and gone home, there will almost assuredly be an “oh no” moment, though someone will likely use an actual expletive.

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Blog Entries

Sandoval suggests 'significantly higher' fees for higher ed students: Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011; Gov. Brian Sandoval has suggested that students pay “significantly higher fees” to attend Nevada colleges and universities, higher education officials said Wednesday.
State Sen. Bill Raggio to retire before session begins: Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011; Iconic Northern Nevada senator and ousted Republican leader Bill Raggio announced today he will retire this month, allowing the county commission to appoint his replacement before the session begins.
Jim Gibbons leaves governor's office without campaign debt: Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011; Former Gov. Jim Gibbons left office without campaign debt, having repaid over $120,000 to donors after he lost June's primary. State law allows $10,000 contributions from a single individual or corporate entity for an election - $5,000 for a primary and $5,000 for a general election.
Sandoval begins inauguration day at Mass: Monday, Jan. 3, 2011; Gov.-elect Brian Sandoval and his family began the inaugural day with a special mass in Carson City.
Sandoval gets extra protection for family: Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010; At a time when Gov.-elect Brian Sandoval is asking departments to prepare budget cuts as high as 30 percent, he has added an additional officer for his family's protection.
Chancellor pushes back on proposed cuts to higher education: Monday, Dec. 6, 2010; The Nevada higher education system said Gov.-elect Brian Sandoval should not assume a 10 percent cut to higher education.
Sandoval budget assumes 10 percent cut to state, higher ed and furloughs: Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010; Sandoval's budget assumes a 10 percent reduction to state spending, a $175 million cut to higher education and another two years of furloughs for state workers.
Business panel sets state spending at $5.3 billion: Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010; The Economic Forum emerged from its hibernation today and saw two more sour years for the state’s economy.
Sandoval keeps budget director: Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010; Governor-elect Brian Sandoval will retain budget director Andrew Clinger, but won't provide any details on his proposed budget until December.
GOP warfare: Raggio's leadership position in state Senate challenged: Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010; Longtime Republican icon and state Senate leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, faces a serious challenge to his leadership spot held since 1977 after endorsing U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid over Sharron Angle.