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Assembly minority leader asks AG, SOS to probe contributions from ex-speaker
In a letter sent today to Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto and Secretary of State Ross Miller, Assembly Minority Leader Pat Hickey asks them to look into $65,000 in legislative contributions from former Speaker Barbara Buckley.
Culinary elects former housekeeper as new secretary-treasurer
As D. Taylor moves up to take over the Culinary's parent union, Local 226 in Las Vegas has elected a former housekeeper as its new leader. Nevada's largest union has elected Geoconda Arguello-Kline, who was in the No. 2 position of president (only in labor is a president No. 2!), as its secretary-treasurer. The first Latina president is now the first female leader of the union. She is a former Nicaraguan refugee who arrived in Miami and later moved to Las Vegas. Â Â Â Â
Secretary of State Ross Miller vs. The Left
A few weeks after he stunned the Nevada political world, especially elected officials and activists in his own party, with a “visual verification” plan (Don’t call it voter ID!), Secretary of State Ross Miller is in fence-mending mode. Or explanatory mode. Or "what I meant to say" mode.
Sandoval's latest appointment: The Hispanic Recovery Project continues
It’s time to start keeping track of these baby steps. As Gov. Brian Sandoval returns to his centrist ways in all things, from taxes to immigration, he is sending signals that he is not the same guy who ran to the right of a corpse named Jim Gibbons in 2010. Two years plus after embracing the Arizona law (SB1070), Sandoval is starting to reach out to the Hispanic community – and he did it again Monday with the announcement of Brian Ayala’s appointment to the Nevada Commission on Tourism.
Site voters split on Miller's voter ID proposal
Not a huge response, but here it is, folks: Â Â
The speaker forms a PAC
Incoming Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick this week formed a leadership PAC, meaning lobbyists better amplify their budgets. The Western Leadership PAC was filed Tuesday by longtime Democratic Party lawyer Bradley Schrager. The stated purpose: "To promote and encourage legislative leadership." Indeed. The only officer listed is Erin Smith, who was an aide to the last female speaker, Barbara Buckley. She is the daughter of state Sen. Debbie Smith.
Martin: I won't talk, considering my legal options
We're doing a program next week on the ongoing controversy over seating Andrew Martin, the Democrat elected to the Assembly last month despite being ruled ineligible to run by a judge. Kelly Hurst, who lost to Martin, has agreed to come on "Ralston Reports." But Martin, in an email to my producer, Dana Gentry, had this to say:
Only in Nevada: Ineligible to run, but eligible to serve
This is one of those “only in Nevada” stories: A Democratic candidate who a judge determined is ineligible to run for an Assembly seat because he doesn’t live in the district nevertheless will be awarded the position because his party controls the house and his opponent can’t afford to fight on.
Reid: GOP like the Jets w/no clear leader; and the Post, NYT sports sections suck
Or words to that effect. Classic Senate floor speech from Mr. Extemporaneous this morning. Here's a rush transcript:  MR. REID: RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT. I'M SORRY. RESERVING           THE RIGHT TO OBJECT, MR. PRESIDENT. I'VE BEEN THINKING HOW BEST           TO DESCRIBE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE ON CAPITOL HILL IN THE LAST           COUPLE OF WEEKS. EVERY MORNING I GET UP, THE FIRST THING I READ           IS THE SPORTS PAGE. I'M DISAPPOINTED IN THE SPORTS PAGE IN "THE
Feeling blue: Dean Heller's office cuts me off
It appears that Sen. Dean Heller's office, which has at times shunned other journalists, now has put lil ole me on its "Do Not Call" list. I have repeatedly tried to get answers to three questions this week from Team Heller, with no response from his chief of staff or top commiunication aides. I suppose Heller & Co. may be petulantly reacting to my post-election evisceration of their ridiculous braggodocio over a 12,000-vote win, as if the senator had some kind of turnout machine. Oh, boo hoo.