Did you know that Democrats fought for almost 100 years to get a universal government health care system before finally passing ObamaCare?
The push began during the Progressive Era in 1912. They moved the ball down the field in the 1960s with Medicare for the elderly and Medicaid for the poor.
HillaryCare failed in the 1990s, but Democrats didn’t give up. They finally got ObamaCare in 2010 – but are STILL chipping away in an undying effort to get “Medicare for All.”
Republicans in Nevada need to exhibit that same level of perseverance when it comes to universal school choice by fighting for and taking wins when they can get them.
And the upcoming special session presents a golden opportunity.
Democrats want a film studio. Gov. Lombardo wants a “jobs” bill. And conservatives want school choice. Here’s how they all can come out with a win.
There is bipartisan opposition to the studio bill, so Democrats are going to need Republican votes to get it.
That puts the GOP – which is in the minority in both houses of the Legislature – in a rare strong position to negotiate.
And here’s the outline of a win-win deal I’m told is being proposed by former Republican Assembly Minority Leader P.K. O’Neill in Carson City. It can be done in one of two ways.
First, Gov. Lombardo – who has advocated for school choice through an increase in funding for Opportunity Scholarships – can put the proposal on his special session agenda.
But even if he opts not to do that, legislative Republicans can use it as a bargaining chip for the film studio proposal, which the governor will likely put on the special session agenda.
Here’s the deal.
In the 2025 session, when the studio bill (AB238) first came up, it narrowly passed, 22-20, with seven Republicans in the Assembly voting for it.
They were: Lisa Cole, Rich DeLong, Bert Gurr, Heidi Kasama, Greg Koenig, P.K. O’Neill, and Toby Yurek.
The bill never got out of the Senate, as Democrats mismanaged the clock and the session ended without a vote.
So yes, Democrats NEED Republican votes to make this happen.
And that puts the GOP in a rare strong negotiating position – if they choose to sell the cow for a change rather than give the milk away for free.
The Opportunity Scholarship school choice program was established in 2015. The initial funding was only $5 million – but included an automatic increase of 10% per year.
Then, in 2019, Democrats eliminated the annual funding increases, leaving the program at around $6.6 million.
As I understand it, P.K.’s proposal is to return the funding increases for Opportunity Scholarships along with a one-time infusion of $15.5 million to replace the money that’s been withheld since the funding cap was imposed.
It’s a page right out of late Sen. Bill Raggio’s book.
Democrats don’t have the votes to pass the studio bill without Republican votes, so Republicans control the cards if they choose to fight rather than capitulate.
The political reality is there’s no way Democrats will give Republicans Education Savings Accounts.
But if Republicans unite, dig in their heels, and make uncapping Opportunity Scholarships their hill to die for in exchange for the film studio – it can happen.
Nobody gets everything, but Republicans at least move the school choice issue down the field a few yards. Democrats win. Gov. Lombardo wins. And Nevada’s kids win.
Let’s hope Republican legislators back P.K. up and, for once, blow the opportunity to blow this opportunity for Opportunity Scholarships.
Do you believe in miracles?
FAMOUS LAST WORDS
“Every Nevada child has the right to a quality education. Traditional public schools are not – and should not – be the only option.” – Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo
