Governor assesses legislative session, has high hopes for education plans

By Cy Ryan

Tuesday, June 2, 2015 | 10:12 p.m.

Gov. Brian Sandoval said Tuesday his goal is to have a 100 percent high school graduation rate and every child reading by third grade with the millions of dollars poured into the education system by the Legislature.

Sandoval met with reporters, saying a decision will be made soon whether he will seek a seat in the U.S. Senate in 2016

He said there were “knock-down, drag-out fights” over some of his proposals, but he denied there was any "arm-twisting.” And he said there are no bad feelings with those who opposed his tax and other plans. He indicated these reports were the result of a lot of "silly rumors flying around.”

His focus, he said, is getting the multitude of education programs started and to see Nevada’s system improved.

Asked about speculation he would be a candidate for the Senate, Sandoval replied a decision “will be made in the near future.” He said he has to consult with his family and others. When he filed for re-election last year, he said he intended to serve out a four-year term.

And he has repeatedly said being governor is the best job in the world.

Asked about his approved plan to send an estimated $5,000 a year to parents who send their children to private or religious schools or provide them home-schooling, he said there is “likely to be a constitutional challenge." But he added the plan was presumed to be constitutional when passed.

There is a constitutional question about separation of state and religion.

He said he would have liked to have seen the presidential primary election bill passed. It died in the Assembly. It would have brought more people to Nevada and focused attention on the state.

His education package will “make a difference” and there will be evaluations to see if it is working. The high school graduation rate is 70 percent, and Sandoval wants to see it at 100 percent.

He said the architect of his education plan was Dale Erquiaga, the state superintendent of public instruction. He called Erquiaga a “hero” who will oversee the development of these new programs in the public school system.

His $1.1 billion tax package “will stand the test of time,” he said.

There may be some backlash from the voters, but he said legislators can point to the many successes such as in education, creation of a medical school at UNLV, a telemedicine bill that will help those ill in rural Nevada and the opening up of “thousands of more doctors” to treat Medicaid patients.

His signing of the bill to permit an Uber-type transportation system will provide more options to visitors.

So far, he has signed 320 bills and has 190 left. He did not indicate whether he would veto any of them.