Frustrated under GOP, Nevada Democrats unveil alternate agenda

From staff and wire reports

Published Monday, March 9, 2015 | 1:44 p.m.

Updated Monday, March 9, 2015 | 2:58 p.m.

CARSON CITY — Democratic lawmakers say they have a better agenda for Nevada than what the Republican majority has been carrying out for the first five weeks of the legislative session.

Assembly and Senate Democrats held a press conference Monday to unveil an eight-page "Nevada Blueprint." The document lists Democratic priorities including raising the minimum wage, making childcare more affordable and closing tax loopholes that favor big businesses.

But lawmakers couldn't say whether the cost of their plan would be higher than the $7.3 billion in revenue that Gov. Brian Sandoval's budget calls for, and they didn't offer specifics about how their tax plan would differ from Sandoval's.

Democrats had long controlled the Legislature before Republicans won majorities in both houses in November. They say they're frustrated with the Republican-sponsored bills they've reviewed.

Senate Minority Leader Aaron Ford and Assembly Minority Leader Marilyn Kirkpatrick, surrounded by more than 20 Democrats lawmakers, outlined the plan.

Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas, said she hopes some of the Democratic priorities end up in the governor’s budget and forthcoming tax plan.

Asked why some of these measures were not approved when Democrats had control of the Legislature, Kirkpatrick, said there was not the two-thirds majority necessary to approve any tax plan.

The Nevada Blueprint endorses a sales tax holiday for the purchase of back-to-school clothes, computers and supplies. Democrats are also proposing lower fees for registering cars.

Las Vegas Sun reporter Cy Ryan and the Associated Press contributed to this report.