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Sandoval explains tax plan, ed reforms, says SOS falsely claimed his backing for voter ID, and much more from gov
In an exclusive one-hour sitdown the morning after his State of the State, Gov. Brian Sandoval explained why he proposed the largest tax increase in history to pay for the broadest education reform agenda in history, suggested he has only a passing interest in other GOP plans for collective bargaining and construction defect reform and said Secreatry of State Barbara Cegavske falsely claimed his backing for her voter ID bill.
Anthony to Goodman: I'm running against you
Las Vegas Councilman Stavros Anthony told Mayor Carolyn Goodman on Saturday that he plans to challenge her in the spring election. Two sources close to Goodman said Anthony informed her at a school opening that he plans to run. Anthony said he would not talk about a private conversation, but said, "I'm thinking about it." Why? "A lot of it surrounds the soccer stadium," Anthony told me. "I think we're spending way too much time on the soccer stadium downtown. We need to spend our energy on other things."
Rand Paul: No government involvement in gaming, no fears of radiation at Yucca, no governor should have expanded Medicaid
Acting presidential candidate Rand Paul argued Saturday that the government should “not be involved” in legalized gaming, obliquely criticized Gov. Brian Sandoval for expanding Medicaid and claimed he is “of two minds” on a Nevada nuclear waste dump but is “not afraid of radiation in a mountain.”
State of the State numbers distilled
The governor has just started speaking (speech attached) , so here’s what you need to know: ►$1.1 billion above Economic Forum projections. About half from new taxes, half from not allowing sunsets to expire. Total general fund: $7.3 billion
State of the State Day blog
I'll update this throughout the day with tidbits. 2:20 PM UPDATE: We are about 90 minutes away from the biennial media briefing, which is where the governor's staff lays out the budget plan, we ask obnoxious questions but can't write about it or put it on TV until the speech. It's always fun as we test the sense of humor of the chief of staff -- in this case, Mike Willden, who is a veteran of such media needling. But we all abide by the embargo -- not sure anyone has ever broken it, although I am taking bribes right now.
State of the State drinking game
It will last anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour Thursday evening. And States of the State are usually like States of the Union: Laundry lists of programs sandwiched between rhetoric meant to be soaring. And always, always too long. So here is some friendly advice: Have alcohol at your side as you watch (not in the chambers, if you are there) and take a drink every time these words are said: EDUCATION CHILDREN FUTURE REFORM BIPARTISAN
SEIU targets....Steven Horsford
UPDATED, 6:40 PM: SEIU has corrected the ad, replaced it with the one below and a spokesman tells me:
The shape of the session to come
I acknowledge that I had low hopes for Monday morning’s Las Vegas Metro Chamber/Las Vegas Review-Journal forum with the four legislative leaders. I expected evasions, platitudes and mush. News? Not a chance. I was wrong.
Michele Fiore: I have been libeled but I won't say how and have yet to sue
"Libelous personal attacks shouldn’t be part of politics" That's the headline on a piece that the Las Vegas Review-Journal published today by Assemblywoman Michele Fiore. I assume the RJ doesn't let its "special" contributors write their own headlines, so the use of the word "libelous" by a news organization is puzzling, to say the least.