Nevada’s top law enforcement officer, Attorney General Aaron Ford (D), is once again making headlines – and not for the right reasons.
Ford showed up a whopping 90 minutes late to a legislative hearing for his own bill, AB 44. This bill is supposed to crack down on price gouging of essential goods during emergencies.
You’d think the man pushing the bill would make it a top priority, right?
Well, not so much.
Instead of being on time, Ford chose to spend his morning hosting a “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) webinar.
That’s right – Ford prioritized a woke training session over showing up to do his actual job.
The event was part of a larger initiative pushed by far-left attorneys general from across the country.
These types of webinars have become more common, as progressive leaders try to bake DEI into every corner of government.
Critics say it’s more about pushing a political agenda than serving everyday citizens.
Meanwhile, Ford’s bill was left to wait.
Critics Question Ford’s Priorities
Ford’s decision has sparked plenty of outrage, and not just from Republicans.
Many Nevadans are asking the same simple question: Shouldn’t the Attorney General be focusing on things like public safety and protecting consumers, instead of spending work hours on social activism?
“This is a perfect example of how our leaders are out of touch,” said Better Nevada PAC in a post exposing Ford’s actions. “Instead of fighting inflation or cracking down on crime, they’re wasting taxpayer time pushing DEI nonsense.”
This morning, the Nevada Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor scheduled a hearing for @AaronDFordNV‘s price-gouging bill, AB 44, for 8 AM… He was 90 minutes late.
Why?
Because he was too busy – in his own words – “staying woke” by hosting a diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI)… pic.twitter.com/iLIQR0a7hR
— Nevada War Room – Better NV PAC (@BetterNevadaPAC) May 12, 2025
Even worse, AB 44 is no slam dunk.
Critics on both sides of the aisle have pointed out the bill is dangerously vague. It gives the government broad powers to go after businesses accused of “price manipulation” without clearly defining what that means.
Some fear it’s more about Ford scoring political points ahead of a rumored 2026 run for governor than it is about helping consumers.
Price Controls: A Bad Idea That Keeps Coming Back
For conservatives, this situation is a twofer of bad government.
Not only is Ford playing politics with DEI webinars, but his bill also pushes an old, tired idea that never works: government price controls.
History has shown that when the government tries to control prices – whether it’s gas, groceries, or rent – it backfires.
Price controls create shortages, hurt small businesses, and lead to even higher prices down the line.
As Steve Moore, a senior fellow at FreedomWorks, recently wrote, “Price gouging laws might sound good on paper, but they discourage suppliers from bringing more goods to market when we need them most.”
That’s exactly what happened after Hurricane Katrina, when anti-gouging laws in Louisiana made it harder to get supplies into devastated areas.
Instead of encouraging competition and free markets, these laws choke the system.
DEI vs. Doing the Job Taxpayers Pay For
But the biggest question still hangs in the air: Why was Ford spending work hours on a DEI webinar in the first place?
For many conservatives, this is part of a bigger problem with today’s Democrat leaders: They’re more interested in pushing identity politics than doing the jobs voters elected them to do.
At a time when Nevada families are struggling to make ends meet, crime is rising, and businesses are still recovering from the pandemic, the last thing they need is an Attorney General focused on virtue signaling.
Ford’s Office Responds – But Critics Aren’t Buying It
Ford’s office has defended his actions, saying the DEI webinar was part of his “commitment to inclusion.”
But that excuse isn’t sitting well with Nevadans who feel abandoned.
“If Ford wants to run for governor, fine,” said one local business owner. “But he should at least pretend to care about the job he already has.”
At the end of the day, Ford’s no-show at the AB 44 hearing tells us everything we need to know about where his priorities are – and it’s not with Nevada families or small businesses.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
