Legislature
Politics
The Two Faces of the Legislature
Is there some Jekyll to its Hyde?
May 15th, 2013
The notion that the state Legislature has more than one personality makes sense, since it has 63 members. But as a body, the Legislature never ceases to be depressing. Except when it’s exhilarating. Read more »
Keep Your Priorities Straight and Your Eyes on Carson City
April 4th, 2013
The Legislature is considering two distinct, but related bills right now that have gone all but unnoticed by the public at large. It’s that lack of scrutiny that tells us something about what we should expect of government, and where our priorities for it lie. Read more »
Excuse Them While They Clear Their Throats
What has the Legislature done so far?
April 3rd, 2013
The 2013 Nevada Legislature has been something like that period of time at The Smith Center between the bartenders pouring your beer into a sippy cup and the orchestra making warm-up sounds from the pit. In fact, you might say our lawmakers have continued gargling salt water and doing scales behind the velvet curtains well into the first act. Read more »
It's All Our Fault
March 26th, 2013
It’s popular to blame the Legislature for Nevada’s problems, or—and here I’m comfortably onboard the bandwagon—to blame the dilettante, term-limited, every-other-year nature of our Legislature. But when you stop to think about it, most of what we dislike about the institution can be traced straight back to ourselves. Here’s a starter list. Read more »
Politics
Showdown in Carson City
The 2013 Legislature is ready to shape our future...or at least argue a whole lot about it. Our roundtable breaks down the big issues.
February 13th, 2013
Politics
It’s Time for an Annual Legislature
April 12th, 2012
State Sen. Richard “Tick” Segerblom is the fourth generation of his family to serve in the Nevada Legislature, and thus the fourth generation to meet every other year in Carson City. He says that needs to change: We need annual sessions. Wait. It’s not more government he’s looking for; it’s better government. And he’s already working on a way to make it a reality. Read more »
Politics
Legislatures and Legitimacy
December 15th, 2011
Nevertheless, the clear and present inadequacy of our current legislative system is a perfect occasion for citizen outcry. If you believe in a full-time Legislature, why not talk about it? There are book clubs, civic groups and other venues to discuss these matters. And—a plug for my day job here—college history and political science classes teach about this kind of stuff! If you’re unhappy or think it’s useless to resist, just remember: America gives you not only a vote, but a voice. Read more »
Politics
How Not to Fix Nevada’s Problems
October 6th, 2011
The recent Nevada Legislature reacted to the state’s problems by doing virtually nothing. It failed to find new revenue streams or even complete redistricting. Our legislators sniped and snarled about how much they were willing to cut and gut until a court ruling forced lawmakers and the governor to work together. Read more »
Politics
Rural Alchemy
September 8th, 2011
Dr. Samuel Johnson, the author of the first great English dictionary, complained of the American colonists of the 1770s, “How is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of negroes?” That’s a tough question to answer about our founding fathers, but if Dr. Johnson was annoyed at the hypocrisy he saw coming from the New World, he might not have survived learning about rural Nevada. Read more »
Mining
The Dissenter
While Big Gold booms, an old battle rages on
September 1st, 2011
The Ruby Valley Treaty allowed settlers to traverse the land, build railroads, graze livestock and mine. With those activities came permanent residents, homesteads, businesses and cities. In exchange, the Western Shoshone were given formal title to their ancestral land. But their ownership rights were never upheld. Read more »
