Governor Joe Lombardo just did something that should make every limited government conservative smile. He vetoed a silly bill that would have made October “Menopause Awareness Month” in Nevada law. And thank goodness he did.
This might seem like a small thing. But it’s actually a perfect example of what’s wrong with modern government. Politicians think they need to create a law for everything. Even basic human biology needs a government proclamation now?
Menopause isn’t even a disease. It’s just a normal part of human development. A life process.
This is like creating a Puberty Awareness Month. Do we really need to make proclamations that human bodies are doing normal human things?
Alert: Humans are doing humanly things, RIGHT NOW.
Why This Matters to Conservatives
Lombardo was actually too kind in his veto message. He politely explained that there’s already an administrative process to request proclamations. The governor could have been more direct.
If I were governor, my veto message would have said that I had already planned to declare October as Vasectomy Appreciation Month. Sorry, ladies.
But seriously, this is limited government in action.
The governor saved taxpayers from more useless paperwork. He stopped lawmakers from cluttering up the law books with feel-good nonsense. And he showed that sometimes the best thing government can do is absolutely nothing at all.
Republicans Voted for This Bill
Here’s where it gets really embarrassing for Nevada Republicans.
The bill passed in the Democrat-controlled Assembly with two GOP votes – Danielle Gallant and Greg Koenig.
In the Senate, only two GOP senators voted against it – Carrie Buck and Lori Rogich.
That means almost every Republican lawmaker voted for this waste of time and taxpayer money.
Democrats want bigger government. That’s their whole thing. But Republicans are supposed to believe in smaller government. Yet most of them voted to create a new law for something that already has a solution.
What are these Republicans thinking?
Now they’re stuck between two embarrassing choices:
Choice 1: Vote to override the governor’s veto. This makes them look stupid for voting for a stupid bill in the first place, then doubling down and voting for the stupid bill twice. Imagine rebuffing the governor on something so dumb.
Choice 2: Vote to sustain the veto. This makes them look like flip-floppers who can’t make up their minds. They voted for the bill when it was popular, then chickened out when their own Republican governor called them out on their nonsense.
Either way, they look foolish. That’s what happens when you abandon conservative principles.
What Critics Are Saying
Supporters of the bill say menopause awareness is important. They point out that 75 million women are in perimenopause, menopause, or post-menopause right now in the U.S. At the federal level, there’s even bipartisan support for legislation that would boost federal research on menopause.
But here’s the difference. Federal research into medical issues? That might actually make sense. State laws declaring awareness months for normal life processes? That’s just government theater for people who have nothing better to do.
What’s next? Teenage Acne Awareness Month? Did you know that some people are bald, or do we need an awareness month for that, too?
The Bigger Picture
Nevada is dealing with real problems. Housing costs through the roof. Crime in the streets. Schools that need fixing. Four of Lombardo’s agenda bills addressing these issues didn’t get a final vote in the Senate.
Yet lawmakers spent time debating whether we need a government proclamation about a normal biological process?
This is exactly the kind of feel-good, do-nothing legislation that drives conservatives crazy. It makes politicians feel important without actually solving any real problems. Meanwhile, real issues get ignored.
Lombardo has already shown he’s not afraid to say no to bad government. Since 1899, only two governors have ended a legislative session without vetoing a bill in Nevada. Lombardo vetoed a record-breaking 75 bills in the 2023 session. He understands that government has limits.
What Comes Next
The real question is what Republican lawmakers do now. Members of the house have to vote by a two-thirds majority to override the veto or the veto remains. The bill then needs to receive a two-thirds majority in the other house to complete the veto override.
Democrats don’t have enough votes to override vetoes without Republican help.
This gives Republicans a chance to redeem themselves. They can support the governor’s common-sense approach. Or they can double down on a stupid bill and vote to override his veto.
What Conservatives Can Do
First, contact your state lawmakers. Tell them you support Governor Lombardo’s veto. Remind them that Republicans are supposed to believe in limited government, not government awareness months for basic biology.
Second, pay attention to how your representatives vote on veto overrides. This is a test of whether they really believe in conservative principles or just talk about them during campaigns.
Governor Lombardo got this one right. He showed that sometimes the best thing government can do is get out of the way. That’s a lesson more politicians need to learn. Especially the ones who claim to be conservatives.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
