Lombardo: Getting Sh*t Done the Nevada Way

(Chuck Muth) – After his January State of the State speech, a reporter asked Gov. Joe Lombardo what he hoped to accomplish during this legislative session.  The governor’s response: “Getting sh*t done.”

And he’s pursued that goal with a vengeance.

Here’s a quick look at what the Republican governor has done so far with two bills, AB 400 and SB 431, that aim to improve education and government efficiency in Nevada.

AB 400, or the Education Achievement, Opportunity, and Accountability Act, is divided into four main topics: School Choice, Early Childhood Literacy, Accountability, and Teacher Pipeline.

The School Choice section creates the Office of School Choice within the Department of Education, requires open zoning, increases Opportunity Scholarship funding from $50 million to $500 million, expands eligibility for Opportunity Scholarships, and allows for Charter School development to address chronic overcrowding.

The Early Childhood Literacy section restores accountability provisions of the Read by Grade 3 policy, creates the Early Childhood Literacy and Readiness Account, and dedicates one-half of excess revenue from the Education Stabilization Account to support evidence-based literacy programs targeting children younger than six.

The Teacher Pipeline section expands and increases funding for Teach Nevada Scholarships and Nevada Teacher Advancement Scholarships, establishes Career Technical Education programs within Clark County School District, and declares a critical labor shortage for educators.

Lastly, the Accountability section expands the Commission on School Funding to the Commission on School Funding and Accountability and charges it with ensuring that new funding dedicated to K-12 education is spent on programs that drive outcomes for students, and develops a new performance matrix with increased performance standards.

SB 431, or the Government Modernization and Efficiency Act, is divided into five main categories: State Employee Management, State Fiscal Management, Governor’s Office Management, Workforce Management, and Other.

The bill aims to streamline hiring, eliminate numerous boards and commissions, and increase efficiency and accountability in state government.

The State Employee Management section eliminates the salary cap of 95% of the Governor’s salary, overhauls Chapter 284 to streamline hiring, doubles leave accrual limit to 60 days, and allows leave within the first six months of hire.

The State Fiscal Management section increases the Rainy Day Fund cap from 20% to 30%, creates the Nevada Way Account, creates the Nevada Way Advisory Committee, and clarifies the function of IFC not to interfere with the Executive Branch.

The Governor’s Office Management section requires the appointment of a Chief Information Officer and a Chief Innovation Officer.

The Workforce Management section revamps DETR to the Department of Workforce with three divisions: Workforce Innovation, Reemployment Division, and Workforce Rehabilitation Division.

Lastly, the Other section creates the Office of Boards, Commissions, and Councils, limits the Governor’s emergency powers to 90 days, and eliminates numerous boards and commissions.

If these bills pass, they have the potential to greatly improve education and government efficiency in Nevada. In other words, the governor is getting sh*t done. Now, if only the Legislature would join him.  Speaking of which…

Legislative Dems: Getting Sh*t Done the California Way

There are more bad bills coming out of this Democrat-controlled Legislature than you can shake a stick at.  Add AB220 to the list.

In short, the bill would require all Clark County residents – but not those in the other 16 counties – who are currently using a septic system to hook up to the city or county sewage system.

The homeowner would be required to pay a big chunk for the change, meaning it’s a unfunded government mandate.

The cost could well be over $30,000 or $40,000 per property.  And to pay for the government’s portion, homeowners would be hit with a new tax/fee.

If the government wants to force existing homeowners to replace their septic systems and hook up to the city/county’s sewage system, then it should pay for it 100%.  Otherwise, leave us the hell alone.

Furthermore, the bill authorizes the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) to impose certain restrictions on water use for single-family residences.  So if you think this bill won’t nail you just because you don’t have a septic system, think again.

As 8 News Now reports…

“About one of every five households in Southern Nevada could get a rude awakening if they don’t cut their water usage. … When the bill was introduced in late February, little attention was paid to provisions of the bill giving SNWA the power to cut off water to homes under extreme conditions. The conditions that would trigger SNWA’s power are already here, and they have been since August 2021.”

The bill passed out of the Democrat-controlled Assembly 30-12, with Republicans Bert Gurr, Melissa Hardy, Heidi Kasama and Minority Leader P.K. O’Neill voting with the Democrats.

Off to the Senate.

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

“Maybe we should stop building new homes here. You go around the outskirt of town, everywhere there’s a new housing development. We’re fighting for water but we allow these new homes to be built, and then we put restrictions upon the people who already live here and have homes. It’s not right and it’s not fair. It should be rethought.” – Ed Borelli testifying in opposition to AB220

Mr. Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, publisher of Nevada News & Views, and founder of CampaignDoctor.com.  You can sign up for his conservative, Nevada-focused e-newsletter at MuthsTruths.com.  His views are his own.