Tom Grady

CARSON CITY – They have names like “A Better Nevada PAC”, “A Bolder Nevada” and “The Nevada Hispanic Legislative Caucus”.

They are all political action committees formed or renewed by state lawmakers this year to help promote their parties, push their candidates and protect their ranks in an effort to maintain and/or win control of the Assembly and Senate.

CARSON CITY – After months of prognostications and political maneuvering, Nevada’s 2012 election season crystallized today as the state’s two-week filing period for public office came to a close.

Next up: A June 12 primary followed by the Nov. 6 general election, which will see a lengthy ballot topped by the presidential race, a competitive U.S. Senate race and four congressional contests.

Also at stake is control of the state Legislature, particularly the state Senate, where Democrats have a razor thin 11-10 majority.

CARSON CITY – An audit of the Nevada State Veterans’ Home identified more than $600,000 in late and inaccurate billings, primarily to Medicare and Medicaid, a panel of lawmakers heard today.
While the late billings won’t affect the ultimate payments received from these programs, the audit identified late billings to residents of the Boulder City skilled nursing home who are paying their own way that could mean a loss of revenue.

A legislative subcommittee decided yesterday to cut or delay several building and maintenance projects due to budget constraints. The Interim Finance Committee (IFC) today will vote whether to approve the recommendations made by the subcommittee.

By Sean Whaley
CARSON CITY – Members of the Legislature’s two money committees reviewed Gov. Brian Sandoval’s proposed budget for higher education today in preparation for making final decisions on how to fund the state’s public university system for the next two years.

By Andrew Doughman
CARSON CITY – Nevada’s rural Republican legislators are struggling to defend the governor’s budget that cuts their communities.
Democrats have been showcasing cuts to the rural counties in order to convince rural Republican legislators that a vote for tax increases is a vote to mitigate the harm to their districts.
Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, said that rural counties are already “cut to the bone,” and in many cases could lose all that they have left.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, U.S. Congressman Dean Heller, and Assemblyman Tom Grady joined Lyon County area officials to witness the striking of the first Lyon County sesquicentennial commemorative medallion at Dayton’s Northwest Territorial Mint on Tuesday.

Lyon County Commissioners, Sheriff, school trustees, superintendent, and members of the Historical Society of Dayton Valley were among those who attended the event and tour of the Mint with the Governor and other dignitaries.

A new group has formed to propose innovative strategies to create a healthy State with well-supported public systems and services and an improved fiscal system.

Members of the Nevada Values Coalition have met twice for “big tent”, nonpartisan meetings to discuss the complex issues, and members then further examined ideas through subcommittees.

Nevada News Bureau staff
CARSON CITY – Rural Nevada lawmaker Pete Goicoechea was elected as minority leader today by the 16-member Assembly Republican caucus.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Assembly Minority Leader Pete Goicoechea said today Nevada voters should be asked to expand the state sales tax to include food purchases as a way to raise revenue and broaden the tax base.
But any such revenue hike should be accompanied by a reduction in the state’s regressive business taxes, he said.

CARSON CITY – The major funding gaps Nevada and other states have been forced to address in their current budgets will continue in the next cycle even as tax revenues finally begin to show signs of life, a national report released today says.
Signs of “delicate” revenue improvement will be offset by the loss of federal stimulus funds, posing ongoing challenges to lawmakers in 2011 and beyond, says the report from the National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL).

Supervisor Ward 1
Karen Abowd vs. Rob Joiner

Supervisor Ward 3
John McKenna vs. Day Williams

Carson City Sheriff
Kenny Furlong vs. Robert Guimont

School Board District 1
Ron Swirczek vs. Julie Bushner

School Board District 6
Barbara Myers vs. Randy Carlson

State Senate Capitol District
James Settelmeyer (R) vs. Kevin Ranft (D)

State Assembly District 40
Robin Williamson (D) vs. Pete Livermore (R)

State Assembly District 38
Tom Grady (R) vs. Dennis Gomez (IAP)

CARSON CITY – A proposal to simplify, broaden and stabilize Nevada’s tax base by expanding and reducing the sales tax to include services from haircuts to legal advice is generating some support and plenty of questions from lawmakers and interest groups.

Important decisions lie ahead with voters in the upcoming elections for several Carson City elected offices.

The Carson City Chamber of Commerce will hold two primary candidates forums April 12 and April 15, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Carson Nugget, 507 North Carson Street. The event is free and open to the public. WNC Professor Robert Morin will serve as moderator and ask each candidate a series of three questions. The audience will have the opportunity to weigh in.

U.S. Senate

Sharon Angle, Republican

Scott Ashjian, Tea Party

Gary Bernstein, Republican

Sherry Brooks, Republican

John Chachas, Republican

By Phillip Moyer | Nevada News Bureau

Over 90 Nevada citizens voiced their opinions about the economic situation to Nevada legislators at the Reno Town Hall meeting Saturday morning.  An estimated 500 citizens showed up at Reno City Ha