• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Nevada Business Magazine

The Decision Maker's Magazine

Subscribe Now!

  • Subscriptions
    • Print
    • Mobile App
    • Email
    • Nevada News & PR Wire
  • Features
    • New This Month
    • View Issues
    • Cover Stories
    • Feature Stories
    • Industry Focus
    • Building Nevada
    • Special Reports
    • Meet the Decision Maker
    • Press Release Wire
    • Nevada Industries
  • Departments
    • A Matter of Opinion
    • Around the State
    • Business Indicators
    • Commentary
    • Commercial RE Report
    • Crossfire
    • Expert Advice
    • Face to Face
    • Free Market Watch
    • Inside Politics
    • Power of Attorney
    • Profit & Loss
    • Speaking for Nevada
    • Tech.knowledge.me
    • The Last Word
    • Vital Signs
  • Planning Calendar
  • Advertising
    • Advertising Info
    • Advertising Staff
    • Submission Requirements
    • Online Advertising
  • Events
    • NBM Events
  • About
    • About the Magazine
    • Contact the Staff
  • Connect
    • Business Directory
    • Press Release Wire
    • Business Calendar
    • Submit Listing
    • Post Press Release
    • Add Your Event
    • Sign Up
    • Log In
You are here: Home / Departments / Free Market Watch / The Elections Aren’t the End: They’re Just the Beginning

The Elections Aren’t the End: They’re Just the Beginning

November 1, 2016 By Michael Shaus Leave a Comment

For far too long now, Nevada has been increasing the regulatory and tax burden on businesses, while simultaneously giving special handouts to politically connected companies and industries.

It’s an environment that is ripe for corruption, abuse and political shenanigans. It breeds “protectionist lobbying,” allowing politically connected companies to squeeze out small businesses and innovation.

Given the popularity of anti-crony political candidates on local, state and federal levels in the last year, it’s clear that a sizeable portion of the electorate are tiring of the status-quo.

So, the question is, will voters tolerate more of the same in 2017?

Some people may think the answer to that question was going to be obvious this month, after the elections. But in truth, we will have to wait much longer to fully assess if this is the case.

The individuals we select to head to Carson City aren’t nearly as important as the public policy solutions they advance when they finally convene in February of 2017.

Ensuring that these candidates-turned-lawmakers advance fiscally sound policies that are in line with Nevada’s tradition of individual liberty, requires more than simply showing up to the polling location in November. It requires a constant engagement from citizens, voters and taxpayers.

As with politicians on every level, when lawmakers arrive at the capital, they are bombarded with information from special interests, embedded political powers and profiteers from the status quo of big-government largess. In short, the voice of the voters is drowned out by the bias of well-established crony elites.

This isn’t the fault of any particular political party — in fact, it’s an environmental reality in almost every level of government.

It’s easy for candidates to speak to people’s concerns during election season, but it is substantively more difficult for lawmakers to actually address those same concerns in the bubble of intra-government politics.

Largely, this is because lawmakers simply aren’t armed with a wealth of policy knowledge going into the session — and their “education” is too often instructed by the very special interests they once campaigned against.

For this reason, the Nevada Policy Research Institute makes it a point to widely distribute our Solutions policy booklet, containing limited-government policy proposals and objective policy analysis on more than 60 individual topics.

It’s a good start toward giving average Nevadans a stronger voice in Carson City — but it’s not enough by itself.

In 2015, over two dozen policy proposals from NPRI’s Solutions booklet inspired bills and legislation. The state’s key educational choice program — Education Savings Accounts — was even taken almost verbatim from Solutions.

And yet, the state still saw a $1.5 billion tax increase, a slew of new regulations and special carve-outs for politically-favored industries and companies. Subsequent special sessions have extended this cronyist tradition, giving special tax incentives to key companies — such as Faraday Future.

The truth is, lawmakers did, in fact, have better policy solutions at their fingertips — but the big-government culture in Carson City simply drowned out many of the alternatives that should have been discussed. And that’s why the elections in November are just the beginning.

As the regular legislative session approaches in 2017, there are many issues lawmakers will be preparing to tackle. A legislative fix to the state’s sweeping educational choice program, economic development, the Commerce Tax and countless other priorities will all be on their agenda.

Arming these legislators with the information they need to make well-informed decisions about the direction of the state is critical. And just as important is letting them know that voters, taxpayers and citizens will remain engaged long after November.

There’s a reason that activists always encourage voters to call their lawmakers when a particular issue is being discussed: It works.

In the Assembly and Senate, lawmakers are insulated from the rest of the state. They are surrounded by apologists for the status quo, who insist there are no alternatives to another tax increase, another regulatory overhaul or another expansion of government.

The voice of average Nevadans must be a part of the session. Together, we are far more powerful than any lobbying group, special interest or union offering political cover — but only if we remain engaged.

So, will Nevadans tolerate more of the same going forward?

It’s a question that won’t be answered until February 2017.

Michael Schaus is communications director for the Nevada Policy Research Institute.

Filed Under: Free Market Watch Tagged With: Faraday Future, Michael Schaus, Nevada Policy Research Institute

Paul Krakovitz: Intermountain Healthcare

Edward Vance: EV&A Architects

Scott Arkills: Silver State Schools Credit Union

Tonya Ruby: Cox Media Las Vegas

Online Advertorials

Online Advertorials

Bank of NevadaFunding Will Provide Nevada Students With Financial Literacy Education

Infrastructure InvestmentsAssure Our Community’s Water Future

Roseman’s College of MedicineAddressing the Physician Workforce Shortage

Groundbreaking LawRequires Businesses Replace Decorative Grass

Advertise With Us

Advertise With Us. more details ►

Primary Sidebar

Get important updates from Nevada Business Magazine, directly to your inbox.
Subscribe

Nevada TaxesWill the Tax Man Cometh to Carson City in 2023?

Industry FocusBusiness Insurance

Medical FacilitiesBuilding Trends Post-COVID

Southern Nevada CCIMPassing the Torch to the Next Generation of Professionals

Nevada News & PR Wire

  • Student at Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas Selected to Participate in Year Long Leadership Program

  • Edgewood Companies Appoints Robert Winkel as New Chairman of the Board

  • Virginia Knudsen Announces Gwen Harvey as New Executive Coach for BOAR

  • Nevada State Bank Branches Accepting Donations for the Communities in Schools of Nevada Fill the Bus School Supplies Drive

  • KPS3 Announces Three New Hires

  • Brian Kleven Joins Nevada Donor Network Governing Board

  • Las Vegas Doctor Warns Of The Dangers Of Handheld Sparklers

  • Southwest Medical Adds a New Physician

  • The State Of Nevada Presents The Launch Of 9-8-8, The Nation’s First Three-Digit Number For Suicide Response.

  • ICRWDA To Host K-9 Officers Competition & Training Seminar In Las Vegas

  • Take on Summer With Dunkin’s New Lineup of Iced Drinks

  • Nonprofit Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School Kicks off Summer Campaign to Gain Additional Business Partners for Student Work-Study Program

  • Naqvi Injury Law Opens Henderson Office

  • Foster Care Panel Scheduled to Discuss Need for Foster Parents in Nye County – Division of Child and Family Services Will Host Event in Pahrump

  • Sportsman’s Royal Manor’s Continuous Improvements to Property Result in Low Crime Numbers

  • Miracle Flights Celebrates 150,000 Flight Milestone by Honoring Local Boy

  • United Way of Southern Nevada Announces Internal Promotions

  • Henderson Chamber of Commerce to Host Networking Breakfast: On a Roll – Local Gaming Update With M Resort Spa Casino Leadership

  • Nevada Supreme Court Justices Recognize Southern Nevada Senior Law Program

  • SR Construction Announces Completion Of The Henderson Hospital Expansion Project

  • Celebrate Dad With These Specials at Ava Rose Agency Restaurant Clients

  • Las Vegas-based Body Balance System to Showcase OvationULT Red Light Therapy Bed at This Year’s IECSC Show

  • Henderson Professional Fire Fighters, Henderson Police Officers’ Association, and the City of Henderson Launch Annual Safety Campaign, “Check Your Seats in the Heat”

  • Juzzef Martinez promoted to Commercial Banker for JPMorgan Chase in Las Vegas

  • Las Vegas Realtor Offers Free Buying Guide to Clark County Residents.

  • Team Nevada Returns After a Successful Appearance at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games

  • The Problem Solver To Speak at Celebrity Speakers Business Network

  • Plumas Bancorp Honored Among Best-In-Class Banking Institutions

  • ImageWords Communications Founder Ruth Furman to Share Media Relations Tips at NAWBO Southern Nevada’s Personal Branding Workshop on June 28

  • Nevada Custom Residence Designed by Daniel Joseph Chenin, Ltd. Receives International Architizer A+ Design Award

  • National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Adopts Resolution To Strengthen Role of Judges Nationwide

  • Ovation Design & Development Celebrated Grand Opening of Arioso Affordable Senior Apartment Complex — Governor Steve Sisolak and County Commissioner Justin Jones Joined Developers and Finance Leaders to Promote Affordable Housing Solutions —

  • aha! Announces Wine Flies Free Program

  • Via Brasil Steakhouse Hosts Father’s Day All You Can Eat Brunch and Dinner at $54.99!

  • Crew Las Vegas Hosts “Woman Who Build” Luncheon, June 14

  • Fennemore Joins Forces With Bay Area Wendel Rosen

  • Communities in Schools of Nevada Announces the Promotion of Alex Bybee to Chief Strategy Officer

  • Marker Trax Adds Director of Product Development and Integration to Help Company Continue to Grow

  • Grand Sierra Resort and Casino Announces the Addition of Chickie’s & Pete’s Crab House and Sports Bar

  • Southwest Medical Adds Two New Health Care Providers

  • Reno Tahoe Pain Associates Welcomes New Staff

  • How Adaptable Is Your Company? iTernal Networks’ Free Upcoming Webinar “Planning for Scalability – Tech More, Stress Less” – June 16th 1 pm PDT

  • De Castroverde Law Group receives Chambers USA’s highest ranking for the second consecutive year

  • Donor Network West Opens New Northern Nevada Headquarters

  • Blueprint Sports Launches ‘Friends of UNILV’ Name, Image, and Likeness Collective at University of Nevada, Las Vegas

  • aha! Announces Nonstop Flights to Idaho Falls From Reno-Tahoe Hub

  • Nevada Women’s Fund Selects Marilyn Newton as 2022 Salute to Women of Achievement Hall of Fame Inductee

  • Debbie Strimling Announced as Jewish Nevada Women’s Philanthropy Council Chair

  • Northcap Commercial Arranges Sale of 3842 Royal Crest St Apartments for $951,500

  • Northcap Commercial Arranges Sale of 3828 Hazelwood St Apartments for $1,730,000

  • Senior Operator at Broadbent & Associates, Inc. Receives Wastewater Operator of the Year Award

  • Siena Italian Authentic Trattoria Offers 50% Off on Wine Bottles

  • Huntington Jewelers to Add New Summerlin Location

  • CAMCO Nevada Hires Ashley King as New CFO

  • June 16 NAIOP Southern Nevada Breakfast Presents “Inflation and Rising Interest Rates: What Is the Impact to CRE Investment Sales?”

  • Project 150 Awarding More Than $170,000 in Scholarships at June 22 Event

  • Las Vegas Home Prices Set Another Record Amid Signs of a Shift in Local Housing Market

  • Emerald Island Grille in Downtown Henderson Unveils Expanded Menu

  • Touro University Nevada’s College of Osteopathic Medicine Receives Top-Level 10-Year Accreditation with ‘Exceptional Outcome’

  • Touro University Nevada’s School of Nursing Programs Receive Prestigious 10-Year Accreditation Extension

  • Quinn Gallagher Joins Blackmon Home Loans as Mortgage Loan Officer

  • Communities In Schools of Nevada Announces First Recipient of the Elaine P. Wynn Stronger Together Scholarship

  • 56th Anniversary of Miranda Rights

  • Martin Vece Named Favorite Teacher in Teacher Appreciation Week Contest — 570 Teachers Nominated in Move 4 Less Contest —

  • In-Person Workplace Safety Training Courses Have Resumed for Nevada Businesses and Employees

  • International Celebrity Vocal Coach Romeo Johnson Offers Vocal Lessons To Clark County Resident

  • 2022 WSOP Sponsor Lexicon Bank is All In Supporting Southern Nevada Charities

  • Holley Driggs Las Vegas Office Expands with New Attorney Additions

  • Nevada’s Exchange Promotes Two Long-Time Employees to Leadership Roles

  • Nathan Strager Awarded Top 1% Of Real Estate Agents in Las Vegas Valley

  • The Embedded Technology Expo To Be Hosted By The Las Vegas Convention Center

  • ExpressJet Airlines Names Bobby Looney Director of Safety

  • Angels of Las Vegas Hosts 2nd Angels on the Green Fundraiser!

  • Dragon Lights Festival Returns to Reno

  • Great Western Steam-up Features Days of Family Fun

  • Student Enrollment Now Open at Groundbreaking New Cactus Park Elementary in Las Vegas

  • CVMC CEO Prater Board Chair of Nevada Rural Hospital Partners

  • Henderson Chamber of Commerce Along With the Henderson Development Association Hosts Commercial Real Estate Development Update & Mixer

  • Michael Grimm and Bill Zappia “Givin’ It to ‘Em” New Variety Show Headlining at the Stirling Club in Las Vegas for a Limited Engagement

  • United Way of Southern Nevada’s 65th Anniversary Golf United Tournament Raises $126,440 for Las Vegas Community

  • Local Students Earn Scholarships in “Shark Tank” Style Business Pitch Competition by Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada

  • Girl Scouts Partner with CAMCO to Deliver Free Cookies to Summerlin Hospital Emergency Room Staff

  • Mark Wiley Group Welcomes New Vice President of Marketing and Communications

  • CSN and The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation Present Two-Day “Juneteenth Powwow” Festivities

  • Nevada Dairy Farmers Award $15,000 in Scholarship Money to Two Winners

  • Lily Funds Announces Sale of 2.2 Acres of Land on Las Vegas Strip

  • MDX Labs Fundraiser Supports Caridad Charity

  • Hosts of the Problem Solver Show Offering Clark County Schools Free Active Shooter Training

  • KPS3 Announces New Hires

  • Cindy Buchanan Joins JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking in Northern Nevada

  • Dr. Chris Robey, DC, Doctor of Chiropractic, Joins the Crovetti Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Team

  • Gaetano’s Ristorante Owner’s Recent Travels to Sicily Inspire New Authentic Recipes for 20th Anniversary Menu

  • John Rinaldo Joins Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School as Director of Business Partnerships

  • Green Valley Library Re-Opening to Community After Extensive Renovation

  • McCarthy Building Companies Promotes Mark Mohning to Vice President of Integrated Design Delivery

  • Education Non-Profit CORE Promotes Founder Lindsay Harper to Chief Executive Officer, Launches Search for New Executive Director

  • Barracuda Championship Announced as First PGA Tour Event to Accept Cryptocurrency

  • TRU Development and LMC, A Lennar Company Officially Break Ground

  • Dueling Axes Las Vegas Launches “Cosmic Axes” to Kick off AREA15’s “Neon Dream” Memorial Day Weekend 2022

  • FEA Consulting Engineers Principal Selected to Lead UNLV College of Engineering Alumni Board



 
Submit Your News & PR | Subscribe
Submit Your News & PR

Business Connection

Business Connection Portal

Log In Sign Up

Business Connection Portal

Log In Sign Up

Nevada Business Calendar

There are no upcoming events.

View Full Calendar ►

Nevada Business Directory

Featured Businesses
Find a Nevada-Based Business Submit Your Business Subscribe to the Nevada News & PR Wire

Nevada Industries

Architects & Engineers
Arts & Culture
Banking
Commercial Real Estate
Construction
Credit Unions
Economic Development
Education
Financial Management
Healthcare
Human Resources
Insurance
Law
Manufacturing
Marketing
Media
Mining
Philanthropy
Residential Real Estate
Rural Nevada
Sports
Tax Planning and Accounting
Technology
Telecom
Tourism
Transportation
Utilities

Footer

Subscriptions

  • Print Subscription
  • Mobile App
  • E-mail Subscription

Editorial

  • Features
  • Departments
  • Events

Advertising

  • Advertise
  • Submission Requirements

Connect

  • Contact
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2022, Business Link LLC dba Nevada Business Magazine and Nevada Business Journal. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions
Nevada Web Design services by Nevada Central Media using Genesis Framework by StudioPress

    *Your Name

    *Your Email

    Phone Number

    Company

    *Subject

    *Your Message

      *Your Name

      *Your Email

      Phone Number

      Company

      *Subject

      *Your Message

        *Your Name

        *Your Email

        Phone Number

        Company

        *Subject

        *Your Message

          *Your Name

          *Your Email

          Phone Number

          Company

          *Subject

          *Your Message

            *Your Name

            *Your Email

            Phone Number

            Company

            *Subject

            *Your Message

              *Your Name

              *Your Email

              Phone Number

              Company

              *Subject

              *Your Message

                *Your Name

                *Your Email

                Phone Number

                Company

                *Subject

                *Your Message

                  *Your Name

                  *Your Email

                  Phone Number

                  Company

                  *Subject

                  *Your Message

                    *Your Name

                    *Your Email

                    Phone Number

                    Company

                    *Subject

                    *Your Message