When Government Gets Out of the Way, Prices Drop
Picture this: You walk into the grocery store and see $10 cartons of eggs. Yes, ten dollars. For eggs.
That was the reality for Nevada families just a few months ago. But thanks to quick action from state leaders, those same eggs now cost 30% less. Here’s how it happened—and why it matters for conservatives everywhere.
The Problem That Hit Home
Nevada had a law requiring all eggs sold in the state to be cage-free. Sounds nice in theory, right? But when bird flu struck poultry farms across the country, this well-meaning rule created a perfect storm. Cage-free egg producers, already operating with tighter margins and lower production capacity, couldn’t keep up with demand.
The result? Empty shelves and sky-high prices. Families couldn’t afford basic groceries. Some stores limited customers to one carton per person, if they were lucky enough to find any at all.
“At the height of the disruption, egg prices exceeded $10 per dozen, and grocery stores imposed strict purchase limits,” explains Bryan Wachter from the Retail Association of Nevada.
Leaders Who Actually Led
Here’s where it gets interesting. Instead of wringing their hands and holding hearings, Nevada’s leaders acted fast. Governor Joe Lombardo, Democrat Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager, and other legislators from both parties came together. In just weeks, they passed Assembly Bill 171.
This emergency law gave state officials power to temporarily suspend the cage-free mandate during animal disease emergencies. It was like hitting the reset button when disaster struck.
“Governor Lombardo, Speaker Yeager, Majority Leader Cannizzaro, and Minority Leaders Titus and Hafen didn’t just act — they delivered for Nevadans,” Wachter said. “In a matter of weeks, we went from $10 eggs and empty shelves to stabilized prices and stocked stores.”
Why This Matters to Conservatives
This story perfectly shows why conservatives believe in limited government and smart regulation. When bureaucratic rules meet real-world crises, people suffer. The cage-free mandate, however well-intentioned, made a bad situation worse.
The solution wasn’t more government programs or subsidies. It was temporarily removing a government requirement that prevented the market from working. That’s conservative governance at its best—knowing when to step back and let the free market solve problems.
Critics might argue we’re abandoning animal welfare standards. But what good are those standards if families can’t afford to eat? Sometimes the best policy is flexibility, not rigid rules.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Within two months of passing AB171, egg prices dropped more than 30%. That’s real money back in people’s pockets. For a family buying a dozen eggs every week, that’s savings of over $150 per year. Multiply that across thousands of Nevada families, and you’re talking about serious economic relief.
Looking Forward
AB171 wasn’t just a one-time fix. It created a tool for future emergencies. The law lets officials act quickly when disasters strike, protecting consumers and keeping store shelves stocked.
“AB171 is a strategic tool for Nevada’s agricultural and retail sectors,” Wachter noted. “It ensures that when crises arise, our state leaders have the flexibility to act quickly and keep essential goods like eggs on store shelves.”
What You Can Do
Conservatives in other states should pay attention. Nevada showed how to balance good intentions with practical results. Here’s what you can do:
First, contact your state legislators. Ask if they have similar flexibility in your agriculture laws. Can officials quickly adjust regulations during emergencies? If not, maybe it’s time for a change.
Second, support leaders who understand when government should get out of the way. The best government action is sometimes no action at all—or in this case, temporarily removing action that’s hurting people.
Finally, remember this story when you hear about new regulations. Every rule has consequences. Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease.
Nevada’s egg crisis teaches us a valuable lesson. Good government isn’t about having the right laws. It’s about having the wisdom to know when those laws need to step aside. When leaders put people before politics and results before rhetoric, families win.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
Read our prior coverage:
The Market Fixes What Government Broke—Egg Prices Drop By 11%
Nevada Governor Lombardo Turns Tables on Democrats’ Egg Crisis Politics
Egg on Their Face: Nevada Lawmakers Scramble to Undo Their Own Clucking Mess
Chicken Little Goes to Washington: Senator Rosen Claims Sky-High Egg Prices Trump’s Fault
