Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

State Government:

Fiore retains leadership position amid more turmoil among Assembly Republicans

A Day With Michele Fiore

Las Vegas Sun

Michelle Fiore meets with Brian and Valerie Wilson on Thursday, May 8, 2014.

Another week, another round of chaos for the Assembly Republican Caucus.

The latest developments started Wednesday, when a news report said Assembly Majority Leader Michele Fiore had been ousted as chairwoman of the chamber's taxation committee, prompting Fiore to accuse leadership of waging a "war on women." However, it appears the report came premature of a formal decision and that Fiore will remain the head of the committee. Assemblyman John Ellison told the Las Vegas Sun that Fiore sent an email to the the 25-member Assembly Republican Caucus this afternoon that said she was still leading taxation.

This morning, Assembly Speaker designate John Hambrick declined to comment about Fiore, saying he was meeting with her to discuss the matter. Hambrick has not returned calls to the Sun this afternoon, but the Fiore email signals that Hambrick still wants her as the Majority Leader and leader of the taxation committee.

The hoopla over Fiore’s spot in the committee follows the uncovering of more than $1 million in tax liens against Fiore. Liens dating back to 2003 show that she has unpaid payroll taxes from her home health care businesses, Always There Personal Care of Nevada and Always There 4 You.

Fiore has yet to publicly comment to any news organization about the federal liens and did not return phone calls to the Sun.

The uncertainty over Fiore’s position is the latest saga in what’s been a tumultuous five weeks for the Assembly Republican Caucus.

The first speaker delegate, Assemblyman Ira Hansen, was ousted last month. Last week, Hambrick became speaker and Fiore Majority leader.

However, another report surfaced Wednesday night indicating that Hambrick may face a bid to oust him from the speaker position. Nevada political reporter Jon Ralston reported that Fiore sent an email saying a bipartisan group of Assembly lawmakers was attempting to remove Hambrick from the speakership, which he’s set to take once the legislative session begins in February.

"I cannot emphasize enough how damaging that action would be to this entire state," she wrote.

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