David McGrath Schwartz

Story Archive

Sandoval supports Clark County sales tax increase for police: Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012; Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval said Wednesday he will support a quarter-cent sales tax increase in Clark County to pay for more police officers.
Henderson attorney Lesley Cohen appointed to vacant Assembly seat: Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012; The Clark County Commission filled a vacant Assembly seat with Lesley Cohen, a Henderson attorney who volunteers at the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada and with a pet adoption group.
Nevada lawmaker calls for 'reasonable restrictions' on gun ownership: Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012; The gun control debate in Nevada’s Legislature has in recent decades been focused on one front: How far should the state loosen restriction on gun owners’ rights?
State's six electors make it official: Obama wins Nevada: Monday, Dec. 17, 2012; Nevada’s election is finally, officially over. And — surprise! — President Barack Obama won the state. At the Capitol, the state’s six presidential electors unanimously cast their votes for Obama and Vice President Joe Biden on Monday afternoon.
State agency budget requests come in $419 million over governor's cap: Friday, Dec. 14, 2012; Nevada agencies requested $419 million in additional state general fund dollars outside of Gov. Brian Sandoval’s budget cap, according to numbers released by the administration today after pressure from lawmakers and the media.
Sandoval sheds light on emerging budget proposals, promises lower taxes, increased education funding: Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012; Gov. Brian Sandoval made ambitious promises not to raise taxes while expanding state health insurance for the poor, preventing cuts to state agencies and actually increasing money for K-12 schools, in a wide-ranging interview with the Las Vegas Sun editorial board Wednesday. A day after he announced that he would expand Medicaid, the first Republican governor in the nation to do so, Sandoval cast the decision in a pragmatic light - a chief executive doing what he has to do to make sure the state functions.
Banks press for changes to 2011 foreclosure law: Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012; Foreclosures in Nevada could spike next year if lawmakers and banks roll back a bill passed in 2011 that played a large role in stymieing banks’ attempts to retake homes from Nevadans, according to the state’s banking association president and housing analysts.
Sandoval to make full agency budget requests public next week: Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012; Gov. Brian Sandoval will release his full agency budget requests, his chief of staff said Thursday afternoon, reversing his administration's position a day after the Las Vegas Sun revealed millions of dollars in agency spending requests were being kept confidential.
Sandoval defends not releasing state agency budget requests: Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012; Gov. Brian Sandoval stood by his decision not to release millions of dollars in budget requests, saying that state agencies were still in the process of projecting costs and the amount he’d be able to fund has yet to be finalized.
Sandoval refusing to disclose millions in state agency budget requests: Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012; Gov. Brian Sandoval's administration is keeping secret millions of dollars in spending requests submitted by state agencies for the next two years, breaking precedent set by prior administrations and possibly violating state law, legislators suggested.
After lawmaker criticism, PTA says it did not ask April Mastroluca to resign: Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012; In response to jabs at the National PTA over the sudden resignation of Assemblywoman April Mastroluca, the education advocacy group that employs Mastroluca said it did not ask her to give up her elected office.
Cuts to Nevada program could affect children with multiple afflictions: Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012; Through Nevada PEP — Parents Encouraging Parents — and its Family Support 360 program, Almalinda Guerrero-Gonzales was able to acknowledge the challenges facing her kids and get them help. But now the program is in danger of being cut because of the premature end of a federal grant.
Economic Forum expresses cautious optimism, projects moderate revenue growth: Friday, Nov. 30, 2012; A state panel of five business leaders will set the stage today for how much money the state can spend on education, social services and public safety, projecting state tax revenue through June of 2015.
In 'difficult decision,' key Democratic assemblywoman to resign: Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012; A Henderson Democratic assemblywoman who was expected to take a key role next session will resign, she said Thursday night in a surprise announcement that came as lawmakers gear up for the 2013 legislative session.
Taxable sales bring in more revenue for Nevada in September: Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012; Nevadans bought more taxable goods in September compared with a year ago, but the state's business payroll tax declined in the quarter that ended in September compared with the previous year.
Incoming legislative leaders impart advice to freshmen lawmakers: Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012; Orientation has begun at the Nevada Legislature-- not just for the 13 “true freshman” facing their first endurance test that is a 120 legislative session, but also for the caucus leaders, who will each be leading their caucuses for the first time.
Dream Act immigrants eligible for Nevada driver's licenses: Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012; Immigrants brought to the country illegally as children and granted a temporary reprieve by President Barack Obama this summer will be eligible for Nevada driver's licenses and state IDs, state officials told the Las Vegas Sun.
Incoming Assembly speaker Kirkpatrick no shrinking violet: Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012; Marilyn Kirkpatrick’s path to becoming the next speaker of the Nevada Assembly is hardly a model for others to follow, but it seems to have prepared her for the rough-and-tumble world of politics.
Does bad taste from Gibbons' time as governor still linger with voters?: Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012; On Election Day, voters handed a surprising victory to lawmakers by passing Question 1, which allows the Legislature to call itself into session — a power previously possessed only by the governor. One theory is that it passed because voters remember Jim Gibbons’ embattled four years as governor.
Budget cuts hurt state's ability to help returning veterans: Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012; Parades and praise for veterans this past weekend are one thing, but Nevada state government has struggled to help veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan access federal benefits.
Senate Republicans took moderate tack, but did it work?: Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012; Senate Republican candidates moved to the center in this election, supporting candidates — including in Republican primaries — who adopted a message of no more cuts to education, even if it angered the anti-tax base. Did it work?
Voter rejection of tax increases is ominous sign for efforts to fix state's tax structure: Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012; Nevada swung heavily for Democrat Barack Obama for the second time in four years this week. But voters here also flashed their fiscally conservative, anti-tax tendencies on Tuesday.
Kirkpatrick to head Democratic caucus in Assembly: Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012; Assemblywoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas, a feisty policy wonk known for her blunt talk and working across the aisle, will lead the Democratic caucus next legislative session.
Sheila Leslie concedes close state Senate race: Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012; Democrat Sheila Leslie conceded her state Senate race against incumbent state Sen. Greg Brower, R-Reno, on Wednesday, ending the tight race that was decided by 266 votes.
Leadership battle begins in Assembly after election defeat of Democratic speaker-to-be: Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012; With the leader of Assembly Democrats defeated in last night's election, Democratic lawmakers are in a scrum to pick the next Assembly Speaker. Caucus will meet tonight to figure it out.
Highest unemployment, spiraling foreclosures, taxes: New lawmakers will have full hands: Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012; As the campaign passes into election hangover and euphoria, Nevada is still grappling with highest in the nation unemployment, more than half of all homes severely underwater, a K-12 education system that many say is failing and a social safety net frayed by four years of budget cuts. Here’s a preview of the top 5 issues the Legislature will deal with when it meets in February.
Speaker-in-waiting loses re-election bid to political newcomer: Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012; Democrat Marcus Conklin, the presumed leader of the Assembly lost his re-election bid to a first-time candidate with a sterling resume, becoming the first legislative leader in 20 years to lose an election.
Democrats keep majority in state Senate: Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012; State Senate Democrats narrowly held off Republican efforts to retake the state Senate, beating back a well-financed GOP effort for the state’s upper house.
Horsford becomes Nevada's first black congressman; Heck wins re-election: Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012; Democratic Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford held a 54 to 40 lead over Republican businessman Danny Tarkanian in the first voting tallies reported Tuesday night, while Republican Rep. Joe Heck was ahead of Democratic Assembly Speaker John Oceguera 50 to 44 percent in early returns.
It's almost over! Here's what to watch for as polls close tonight: Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012; Nevada voters have had to endure a marathon this election cycle, with a constant Democratic campaign machine on one side and that extended Republican primary — oh, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, how we miss you — on the other. Here's what to watch for tonight to see how it all turned out.
On eve of election, judge rules Democrat ineligible to run for Assembly District 9: Monday, Nov. 5, 2012; A Clark County judge has ruled Assembly candidate Andrew Martin ineligible for office because he did not live in the district he is running in. The ruling tosses into turmoil the seat, which has a Democratic voter registration edge.
Democrats lob 'Medi-Scare' attacks on state candidates who have no say over program: Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012; Of all the issues the Nevada Legislature will take up in 2013, Medicare, the health care program for seniors, isn’t one of them. That’s because it’s purely a federally run, federally funded system that state lawmakers have no control over. But that hasn’t stopped Democrat-aligned groups from launching attacks on at least four Republican candidates for the state Legislature, accusing them of wanting to end or cut Medicare.
Assembly speaker-in-waiting in fight for political life: Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012; The lawmaker in line to lead the Assembly next year is in a race for his political life, battling in one of the most expensive Assembly races in the state's history. The result could be the first election defeat of a Nevada caucus leader since 1992.
Paul Ryan rallies in Northern Nevada, visits volunteers in campaign office: Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012; Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan dropped into his Las Vegas campaign headquarters Thursday to provide some moral support for volunteers and make a few phone calls to supporters himself.
Candidates in state Senate race disagree over taxes: Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012; Republican Scott Hammond and Democrat Kelli Ross disagree over whether 2009 tax increase should be extended a second time in their race for Senate District 18.
Sandoval offers to broker dispute between union and school district over $40 million grant: Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012; Gov. Brian Sandoval said he was “deeply disappointed” that Clark County teachers union had blocked the school district’s application for a $40 million federal grant and offered to personally meet with the union and school district officials to get them together before a new Nov. 2 deadline for the application.
Senate candidates seek to buck attack ads, stake out middle ground: Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012; So both Democrat Joyce Woodhouse, a former state senator, and Republican Steve Kirk, a former Henderson city councilman, say the attacks from outside political groups that paint them as extremist are misleading.
Nevada lawmakers want ability to call special sessions: Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012; Some lawmakers see the Legislature’s relevance slipping. To reverse the slide is Question 1, the only statewide ballot question this year. The proposed constitutional change would allow the Legislature to call itself into special session, if two-thirds of lawmakers in both the Assembly and Senate sign a petition.
Nevada Day Parade attracts candidates, supporters, celebrities: Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012; Candidates and their campaign supporters traveled down the capital’s main street for the Nevada Day Parade today, waving to crowds celebrating the state’s entry into the union and stumping for votes in the final push before Election Day.
Heck, Oceguera engage in tense debate: Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012; Rep. Joe Heck and Assembly Speaker John Oceguera defended attack ads and traded barbs over women’s health issues, pensions and taxes in a tense debate that aired Thursday evening.
TV station owner ends Twitter rampage on Horsford: Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012; Jim Rogers, the mercurial television station owner and former head of the Nevada System of Higher Education, has changed horses in the Congressional District 4 race.
Nevada Supreme Court strikes down coroner's inquest rules but leaves door open to further change: Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012; The Nevada Supreme Court threw out the coroner's inquest system, which investigates officer-involved deaths, in a decision released Thursday. The ruling was based on the roles of the justices of the peace, who preside over the inquests.
Congenial tone in state Senate race belies stark policy differences: Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012; The Election Day results in Senate District 6 won’t just help determine which party controls the Legislature’s upper house. It could also yield a future leader for whichever party is lucky enough to win it.
Sandoval travels to Canada on economic development mission: Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012; Gov. Brian Sandoval is in Canada for a series of economic development meetings, his office said today.
Caesars joins Wynn and Adelson in funding pro-Republican group: Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012; Caesars, historically the most Democratic-leaning casino company, has contributed $165,299 to a national Republican group that’s playing in the state’s five competitive state Senate seats.
Reid calls himself a 'one-man wrecking crew' aimed at Romney: Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called himself a “one-man wrecking crew” on Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s refusal to release his tax returns.
Democrats start to back off of mining: Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012; Mining came out of the Legislature in 2011 on the ropes. Led by Senate Democrats, the Legislature limited mines’ tax deductions, instituted a new mining oversight committee and took the first step to rip the industry’s tax rate out of the state’s constitution by passing Senate Joint Resolution 15. But now, elected Democrats and candidates are taking a softer approach to one of the state’s major industries, which also contributes heavily to both Democratic and Republican campaigns.
Coming election could signal shift in opposition to Yucca Mountain: Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012; For decades, Nevada’s federal and statewide elected officials have had a seemingly uniform mantra on Yucca Mountain and nuclear waste in the state: Hell no. End of conversation. But November’s election could change that, both proponents of Yucca Mountain and those ardently opposed say.
Sandoval brings in $800,000 to boost Republican campaigns: Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012; Gov. Brian Sandoval has raised nearly $800,000 from a handful of donors to help Republicans running for state Senate in the past few months, including $100,000 checks from major Las Vegas casino companies.
Nevada lieutenant governor says attacks on Romney ‘absurd’: Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012; Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki called the flap over Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s statements about “binders full of women,” “absurd attacks” driven by supporters of President Barack Obama.