Jon Ralston

Story Archive

The capital’s red-light district: Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011; In a state beset by problems of historic magnitude, with a legislative donnybrook soon to come, the Senate majority leader came home Tuesday to inform the populace that Nevada “has the wrong kind of red lights.”
‘No new taxes’ has no new meaning: Friday, Feb. 18, 2011; It’s only the second week of Session ’11 and the tax non-debate has set a high bar of inanity to hurdle.
Fire chief who asked for sick days off three months in advance made $200,000 that year: Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011; Fire battalion chief Gina Hall, who in emails posted elsewhere on this blog is seen asking for sick days off three months in advance, made $200,000 in that year, 2009, according to payroll records I have obtained.
New poll heralds end for Ensign, sparks Senate scramble: Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011; John Ensign is dead, one in an occasional series:
Firefighters had 'sick rosters' that planned days off in advance, so others could plan to get overtime: Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011; That was the revelation at today's Clark County Commission meeting and I have obtained some examples of the rosters and posted them at right. As you can see, red days, posted a month in advance, are for sick days.
UNLV president: Colleges and schools could disappear, departments may also vanish with budget cuts: Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011; Elsewhere on this site, the Sun's Anthony Ramirez reports on UNLV President Neal Smatresk's dire briefing to the Faculty Senate:
The elevated debate sure to occur in the mayor’s race: Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011; Welcome to this special edition of “Face to Face,” a debate in the Las Vegas mayor’s race.
Does the first week of the Legislature mean anything?: Friday, Feb. 11, 2011; Scenes from a Legislature in its infancy, with only 115 days until the first special session:
An activist governor keeps GOP troops in line: Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011; It was a little thing, but with big portents.
Welcome to the 2011 Legislature: Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011; The Session of Optimism begins Monday, with the governor saying Nevada is a stock he would buy (although his investment is limited by his penurious budget) and the Gang of 63 ready to spend as much as they can (although their investment is limited by their penurious courage).
The race for Las Vegas mayor is over — or is it?: Friday, Feb. 4, 2011; Carolyn Goodman will be the next mayor of Las Vegas.
Let the Carolyn coronation begin: Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011; Is there really a need to hold the mayoral election now? Couldn’t Oscar just appoint Carolyn and we can save a lot of money on this fait accompli election? Surely, that would be easier.
Did Ensign conceive of the investigation around him?: Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011; It’s hard to imagine what is unimaginable to John Ensign.
Firefighters' damage control spin machine revs up before hearing: Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011; In advance of today's Clark County Commission hearing on sick leave abuse, the county fire union sent a message to its members and the elected folks.
Horsford continues "It's so bad we'll have to raise taxes" campaign on education funding: Monday, Jan. 31, 2011; That's the purpose of the latest missive from the media shop state Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford set up and is run by ex-Rory Reid spokesman Mike Trask. It lays out all the cuts in K-16 and proposes a massive tax increase to bridge the gap.
How to boost spending without raising taxes: Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011; Gov. Brian Sandoval says he wants an “open and honest debate” over his budget.
County lawyer exposes fire union’s spin in arbitration: Friday, Jan. 28, 2011; If ever there were a compelling argument to televise collective bargaining sessions between governments and public employee unions, Clark County’s extraordinary hearing with its firefighters and an arbitrator makes any “Law & Order” episode look tepid.
'The contract allows a lot of latitude for those who would manipulate the system for their own financial gain': Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011; That's the description of the Local 1908 contract in an internal fire department email I have obtained and that was used in the recent arbitration case won by Clark County.
Nevada is not Nevada and English is not English: Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011; Gov. Brian Sandoval brought his “Optimism is the Foundation of Courage” tour to the Four Seasons this afternoon to deliver a distilled State of the State to an appreciative Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce luncheon that numbered in the hundreds.
Sandoval’s paradoxical State of the State: Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011; On the bright side, Gov. Brian Sandoval kept his campaign promises.
The State of the State Gov. Sandoval should deliver: Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011; Fellow Nevadans, the state of the state is not good.
Of states of state, senators, gamblers and gamers: Friday, Jan. 21, 2011; As I fight off “State of the State” fever and get ready to play the “No new taxes” drinking game Monday, I need to empty out the political notebook from a busy week of activities crying out for insight and commentary. Much to cover:
Sisolak calls for local, state, federal probes of fire union after arbitrator's decision: Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011; Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak, a critic of firefighters gaming the system, has sent letters to local, state and federal law enforcement officials asking them to investigate sick leave abuses outlined in an arbitrator's decision.
National Republicans digging for information on Secretary of State Ross Miller: Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011; The National Republican Senatorial Committee has asked Democratic Secretary of State Ross Miller for just about every scrap of paper in his office
Congratulations, governor, and here’s a few thousand to say thanks in advance: Sandoval's post-election haul: Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011; Gov. Brian Sandoval raised more than half a million dollars from Election Day until the end of 2010, one fifth of it from MGM Resorts International and tens of thousands from the usual suspects (gaming, the garbage monopoly, developer/gambler Billy Walters).
Senate majority leader is reborn but still the same: Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011; For a dead guy, Harry Reid looked quite hale Tuesday.
Some modest proposals to help fix the budget: Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011; At least Gov. Brian Sandoval has a plan.
He will formally unveil his budget Jan. 24. But as I told you last week, the contours already are established: No new taxes, push services to the locals, sweep school district capital reserves, pay cuts for state workers, consolidate agencies.
R&R, Ferraro Group to host reception after Sandoval speech: Friday, Jan. 14, 2011; It's almost a tradition. After the governor gives his State of the State address, top lobbying firms host a soirée for him.
Political, legal fights will arise out of Sandoval’s plan: Friday, Jan. 14, 2011; There are few surprises left in the Sandoval administration’s budget the governor will propose in his State of the State address Jan. 24.
New speaker to lobbyists: Come kiss my ring at exclusive reception: Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011; That's not exactly what the invitation says that was sent out by Assembly Speaker John Oceguera. But it's close.
Sandoval outlines pay cut in letter to state employees: Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011; Sandoval letter.
Forget civility. How about more truth in politics?: Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011; In the wake of last weekend’s horrific shooting, many observers have weighed in with both trenchant and idiotic takes on what the incident means and doesn’t mean. Jared Loughner so far seems to be a lunatic who does not possess the intellectual moorings to be classified as a right-wing or left-wing maniac.
Gov. Sunny sees a silver lining in every cloud: Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011; One of many supplicants who recently met with Brian Sandoval left disheartened by the grave picture the newly minted governor painted of the state’s budget.
Raggio’s exit leaves a big vacuum: Friday, Jan. 7, 2011; Bill Raggio is the only elected official who almost made me cry.
Horsford: 'Extreme right-wing interests (trying) to dismantle our state': Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011; "Some things are worth fighting for," state Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford sent this out a short time ago:
Did the 2012 U.S. Senate race begin last week?: Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010; John Ensign supports higher taxes on all Americans and Dean Heller is against them.
New Assembly leaders show holiday spirit of asking: Friday, Dec. 17, 2010; The holidays are a time for giving, and I think I know who the state’s lobbying corps have on their Christmas lists.
Angle shows (again) how politics can reward failure: Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010; Let’s say you are the marquee player for a franchise — a walk-on who defeated the anointed favorite.
Sandoval budget gives business leaders pause: Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010; The voice on the other end of the line radiated frustration.
Gaming’s view of other frontiers still evolving: Friday, Dec. 10, 2010; What’s missed in the hyperventilating over whether Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is making a grand payback or bowing before Caesar in his Internet poker push — hello, Occam’s Razor — is how both the senator and the gamers, coincidentally, have evolved on the issue.
Same old numbers game won’t work in Session ’11: Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010; When I hear the ongoing, cacophonous debate over the size of the state budget deficit as Session ’11 looms, I can’t help but think of two words: Who cares?
Mr. Sandoval goes to Washington: Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010; Gov.-elect Brian Sandoval, making good on a transparency pledge, released partial transcripts of some of his Washington, D.C., meetings during a three-day sojourn in the capital:
Sandoval is no Jim Gibbons, but is he Kenny Guinn?: Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010; It’s easy to say Gov.-elect Brian Sandoval is Gov. Jim Gibbons, minus the spectacularly embarrassing drama.
Dishing out more reasons to be thankful: Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010; As you recover from your Turkey Day hangover and wonder when the leftovers will be gone, it’s time to revisit what some high-profile folks gave thanks for on Thursday. Luckily, I know:
Consideration, not condescension, needed in talk about business tax: Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010; The main problem with having a debate over Nevada’s tax structure and spending patterns is that it quickly devolves into pabulum.
Can state lawmakers reach across party lines?: Friday, Nov. 19, 2010; Mike McGinness, the new state Senate minority leader who says he acquired his post because of grass-roots revulsion at Bill Raggio’s endorsement of Harry Reid, thinks the U.S. Senate majority leader “has done a remarkable job.”
Numbers tell state budget’s back story: Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010; As a new administration forms and an incipient Legislature prepares, with all the chatter of confrontation vs. compromise, The Great Budget Debate of 2011 is simple: It’s all about numbers.
Internal disarray didn’t do Angle any favors in her campaign: Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010; Sharron Angle, the Energizer Bunny of Nevada politics, was out and about last week in Las Vegas, leading to the conclusion that she will keep running and running and running.
GOP may be setting its sights on Ensign: Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010; Suffering from the enervating ennui of postelection depression, I always find there is only one cure: Look ahead to the next one.
One word: Preparation: How did Harry Reid withstand the Tea Party tidal wave and beat conservative Sharron Angle in the U.S. Senate race?; Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010; Shortly before the June 8 primary, I was chatting with a Harry Reid operative about my plans for a break after covering the intense Republican scrum, taking advantage of the usual summer doldrums.