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UPDATED WITH CHANCELLOR, REGENT CHAIR BACKING UNLV: UNLV backs off UNLV study
UPDATE: The chancellor and the chairman of the board of regents backed up UNLV President Don Snyder's open questioning of an academic study after major political players objected. They made it sound as if this is about a vigorous debate between academics, when it really is about an administration bending to the will of major donors.
Legislative leaders meeting on tax plan, but it's early
On March 5, 2013, state Senate Minority Leader Michael Roberson stunned the Legislative Building by assembling a majority of his caucus to propose a mining tax initiative.
Laxalt wrote glowing self-evaluation but committee's view was much different
Two years ago, Adam Laxalt thought he was a superb lawyer with amazing analytical and writing abilities. His colleagues thought otherwise. In a self-evaluation he filled out in 2012 for his law firm, Lewis & Roca, Laxalt labeled his skills as either “exceeds expectations” or “outstanding.” He bragged about his ability to “demonstrate solid grasp of basic legal concepts” and “draft clear and concise written work that is free from errors of grammar, usage, and spelling…” His colleagues thought otherwise.
AG hopeful Laxalt was described in law firm evaluation as a "train wreck," borderline incompetent to practice
UPDATED BELOW WITH LAXALT CAMPAIGN STATEMENT, 5 pm: Republican AG hopeful Adam Laxalt was described by his firm's evaluation committee as "a train wreck" who "doesn't even have the basic skill set," according to a review of his performance two years ago. The assessment by the Lewis & Roca Associate Evaluation and Compensation Committee (AECC) suggested that Laxalt attend seminars to "address basic legal principles" because of his "horrible reviews" and because he "has judgment issues and doesn't seem to understand what to do."
New margin tax study sees benefits for the state
UPDATED WITH STUDY ATTACHED HERE, 11:15 AM After being pummeled by doomsday scenarios from foes, The Education Initiative folks commissioned a study from UNLV that indicates significant economic benefits from the so-called margin tax. The study, expected to be released this week, says, according to those who have seen it: ►TEI actually will increase economic activity and create jobs, including as many as 13,000 in 2016 and 10,400 jobs in 2017. ►The positive impacts from new government spending more than offset the negative impacts from the tax.
Bilbray: Margin tax too high and "horribly written," but I'm voting for it
CD3 hopeful Erin Bilbray met with the Clark County Education Association today and told them her position on The Education Initiative: "We have put teachers and parents backs up against the wall. We need to do something to get more resources but the language is far from perfect and the tax is too high."
The best laid plans of Kochs...
I was thinking about what headline would most infuriate Harry Reid, and it is this one: “Koch Brothers celebrate majority leader’s decision to retire.” That thought occurred to me after two of POLITICO's finest, Ken Vogel and Burgess Everett, considered the question of the Koch Brothers’ Newtonian reaction to Reid’s obsessive crusade against the Kansas billionaires.
Democrats lose ground to Republicans in Clark County after voter deactivations
Democrats lost ground in key areas of Clark County last week when more than 14,000 voters were taken off the active rolls. According to figures I have obtained from Clark County, here is some of what happened, including in those three key state Senate districts, all of which could be close: