As a long-time Nevadan, I’ve always been proud to say our state is among the nation’s most business friendly. However, with recent legislative action, we’ve lost much of our edge and we can no longer tout Nevada as a beacon for new business. Take for example, my friend Dave, who owns a successful promotional products company. He was courted by economic development officials … [Read more...]
The Blame Game: Voter Fraud in Nevada
In mid-April, Nevada Secretary of State (SOS) Barbara Cegavske made an intriguing, if cryptic, claim in the form of a letter to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) director, Terri Albertson. Cegavske wrote, “Please take appropriate corrective action, as we have reason to believe that non-citizens have unlawfully registered to vote in Nevada as a direct result of DMV’s … [Read more...]
Partner: A Business Leader’s Role in Education
Education has been a hot-button topic for a long time in Nevada, and for good reason. It’s no secret that our educational system is failing by nationally measured metrics. You can chalk it up to non-involved parents, a high population of ESL students or school districts that are simply too large, it doesn’t change the fact that Nevada’s educational system needs major work. … [Read more...]
Here We Go Again: Legislature Poised to Raise Taxes
On the heels of Nevada’s largest tax increase, crafted in 2015, legislators are again looking for additional sources of revenue. This time, it comes in the form of AB 43, which modifies the current law on property tax caps. And it comes at a time when businesses are just starting to recover from the worst recession in recent history. I have an idea. How about our government … [Read more...]
Nevada Piggy Book: Required Reading for Taxpayers
The Nevada Policy Research Institute (NPRI) recently released the 2016 edition of the Nevada Piggy Book. This is good because Nevada taxpayers need to know about government waste, which is an especially important topic while the Legislature is in session. However, it’s also depressing to see these examples of how our hard-earned money is being thrown away by politicians and … [Read more...]
Intrusive and Unnecessary: Commerce Tax Registration
Has your company registered for the Commerce Tax? If so, you’ve obeyed the law, but you’ve also put yourself at risk unnecessarily. This tax was passed by the 2015 Legislature, supposedly to help fund education, and it applies to every company doing business in Nevada whose gross receipts are $4 million or more. However, every single business in Nevada, regardless of whether … [Read more...]
Businesses and Universities: The Great Divide
If you’re in business and you’ve ever tried to have a conversation with a tenured professor, you’ve quickly realized there’s a vast difference in their thought processes. While successful business folks are pragmatic in their approach to problem solving, most educators at the university level are more idealistic. There’s also an entitlement mentality not found in the business … [Read more...]
Divisive and Fear Mongering
Harry Reid’s Legacy While I’m sure we can all breathe a sigh of relief that the negative back and forth of this election is finally over, the outcome has brought out the worst in many Americans. On one side we’ve seen crying snowflake millenials upset we won’t have a woman president and “protestors” storming Trump Tower demanding the president-elect’s head. On the other side … [Read more...]
Governor Buries Hope of Education Savings Accounts
A Shot in the Head to School Choice Almost as soon as they were signed into law by the Nevada Legislature last year, Educational Savings Accounts (ESA’s) were contested by those that would hold back a ground-breaking solution to some of Nevada’s most serious issues. If you haven’t been following the ongoing battle for school choice, here’s a brief history. SB 302, or the … [Read more...]
The Second Amendment is a RIGHT … Not a Privilege: Vote NO on Question 1
Most American’s support stricter gun controls. So I write this at the risk of being thrown into Hillary’s “Basket of Deplorables” and knowing my e-mail account will be bombarded with letters from folks livid that I could be so ignorant as to oppose stricter gun controls. But, I’m okay with both. Next month, Nevadans will be asked to vote on Question 1, which would add a … [Read more...]
Builders Beware! BLM’s Epic Money Grab
It’s common knowledge that nearly 90 percent of Nevada is federally controlled and the majority of that land is public domain. In order for the state to grow, it’s imperative that developers have access to and can legally purchase land from the government. Furthermore, it’s important that land which has already been purchased isn’t restricted in its use and developers aren’t … [Read more...]
What is PERS hiding? Government Agency Fails to Comply
Nevada’s Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) is a public agency created by the Nevada Legislature to provide benefits to retired government employees in the state. The agency is funded by your tax dollars and required to disclose retirement records, including pension amounts, for public employees per a 2013 Nevada Supreme Court ruling and in conjunction with the Nevada … [Read more...]
Is Common Sense Really Dead? Shared Bathrooms are Simply Dangerous
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard about the most recent departure from common sense, the transgender bathroom issue. However, just in case you do call a rock your home, let me catch you up. In many places, men can now use the ladies’ restroom and ladies, if they’re so inclined, can find out what those urinals in the men’s room are all about. The issue really … [Read more...]
Stop Throwing Away Our Money!
You and I work hard for our money, and it’s painful to see government agencies wasting it with ridiculous projects and inefficient practices. If you want to see some prime examples of how our elected representatives in Washington are throwing away taxpayer dollars, look up the 2016 Congressional Pig Book, published by Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) and available … [Read more...]
The Fast Track to Felony for Law-Abiding Citizens: Gun Transfers and Question 1
Last year, Nevada legislators made dramatic improvements to gun control laws in the state. Signed by Governor Sandoval in June, SB 175 and SB 240 were two of the most prominent pieces of legislation (although there were several) and applauded by gun owners statewide. By way of refresher, SB 175 abolished handgun registration in Clark County, expanded the already in place “Stand … [Read more...]
Enough! Let’s Stop Bureaucrats from Increasing Our Property Taxes
In 2005, the state Legislature capped property tax increases for residential and commercial properties at 3 percent and 8 percent, respectively. Having two different rates seems unconstitutional to me and many others. Article 10, Section 1, of the Nevada Constitution, in part, states: “The Legislature shall provide by law for a uniform and equal rate of assessment and … [Read more...]
Time to Kick the Kids Out of the House and Do a Bit of Damage Control
The recent passage of our state’s largest tax package, which came on the heels of a ballot in which Nevadans overwhelmingly rejected a similar business tax, makes it abundantly clear that our state politicians have no regard for the wishes of the people. And if they don’t represent us, then whom do they represent? However, the bigger question is what are we going to do about … [Read more...]
Senator Michael Roberson – This Man Doesn’t Represent Us
A current State Senator of Nevada, Michael Roberson is not just any State Senator, he’s the Majority Leader. He also appears to resemble one of those ineffective Republicans in Congress and now he wants to be one. Many Nevada business leaders became very familiar with Michael Roberson last year, prior to the session, as he touted how he and those he supported for election … [Read more...]
Connecting the State: Nevada Business Magazine Turns Thirty
This issue marks the first in our 30th Anniversary year and, as I reflect on the last three decades, I am struck by the progress we’ve made. Remaining a statewide voice for business, the only such publication in Nevada, has been no easy feat. The state’s economies, including Reno, Las Vegas and our rural communities, have divergent needs and providing a cohesive voice to all … [Read more...]
A Little Birdie Told Me… The Danger of Sage-grouse in Nevada
At this point, it’s been the topic of several news articles, commentaries and has become a point of contention between Governor Sandoval and Attorney General Adam Laxalt. What, you may ask, could cause so much fuss? Just a little bird known as the Greater Sage-grouse. If you aren’t familiar with the bird and it’s relation to Nevada, I suggest you get up to speed quickly as this … [Read more...]
