Playing Politics with Egg Prices: Nevada Democrats Scramble to Fix Their Own Policy

A legislative drama is unfolding in Carson City as Democratic lawmakers try to claim credit for fixing an egg price crisis they helped create, while attempting to score political points against Governor Joe Lombardo and Republicans.

The Political Theater

Assembly Majority Leader Steve Yeager (D) kicked off a heated exchange by tweeting:

“Nevadans can’t depend on the Trump administration or Republicans to lower costs of basic necessities. That is why Assembly Democrats are taking action this session to lower costs and deliver results for Nevada Families.”

In a follow-up tweet, he added:

“Assembly Bill 171 is just the start of us taking action to lower costs and make life more affordable for Nevadans.”

Senate Minority Leader Robin Titus (R) quickly fired back, exposing the irony in Yeager’s claim:

“This partisan take is absurd. The ‘egg bill’ was unanimous in both chambers and undoes regulatory consequences you yourself are responsible for. Let’s work together to deliver for Nevadans this Session and leave campaigning for June.”

This partisan take is absurd. The “egg bill” was unanimous in both chambers and undoes regulatory consequences you yourself are responsible for.

Let’s work together to deliver for Nevadans this Session and leave campaigning for June. #nvleg https://t.co/nL6Y3eCKOO

— Dr. Robin Titus (@drrobintitus) February 12, 2025

The Nevada State Democratic Party jumped into the fray, with a press release imploring the governor’s signature:

“Under Joe Lombardo everything is more expensive and today, Democrats took serious action to give working families relief by passing legislation that will lower the cost of eggs.”

The Background

In 2021, Nevada’s Democrat-controlled legislature passed a law requiring all eggs sold in the state to be cage-free.

Now, with egg prices soaring due to avian flu and the cage-free mandate, these same lawmakers are rushing to temporarily suspend their own law – while simultaneously trying to paint themselves as consumer champions.

My prior coverage, here: Egg on Their Face: Nevada Lawmakers Scramble to Undo Their Own Clucking Mess

 The Numbers Tell the Story

The combination of the cage-free mandate and avian flu has hit consumers hard:

• Egg prices jumped 36.8% from December 2023 to December 2024
•  Over 156 million birds nationwide have been lost to avian flu since 2022
•  Cage-free eggs typically cost 30-40% more than conventional eggs
•  Local businesses like Comma Coffee have added surcharges to egg dishes

The Fix

Assembly Bill 171, authored by Democratic Assemblymember Howard Watts and co-authored by Assembly Majority Leader Yeager, would allow the cage-free requirement to be suspended for up to 120 days, twice per year if needed.

Ironically, both lawmakers voted for the original mandate in 2021, with Watts chairing the committee that wrote it.

In case you aren’t aware of your voting record– you voted for the 2021 law you’re now trying to fix. https://t.co/7BDj7lOfBJ pic.twitter.com/ywl5P0vNk2

— BrutalBrittany (@BrutalBrittany2) February 13, 2025

Looking Ahead

The episode highlights a classic conservative critique of government overreach – well-intentioned regulations often lead to unintended consequences that harm the very people they’re meant to help. While Democrats attempt to spin this temporary fix as a win for consumers, the reality remains that they’re simply trying to undo damage caused by their own policies.

As Senator Titus suggested, perhaps it’s time to set aside partisan posturing and focus on real solutions for Nevada families. The egg debate serves as a reminder that when the government tries to micromanage markets, consumers often end up paying the price – both figuratively and literally.

The Case for Veto

While Governor Lombardo is expected to sign this unanimously passed bill, a veto could be the bolder play.

Imagine the political theater: Democrats would have to hold press conferences complaining that their own law remains in place. They’d be forced to explain why a policy they championed is now so problematic it needs regular suspension. Every attack ad would remind voters who created this crisis in the first place.

A veto would send a clear message: If a law is flawed enough to need repeated suspension, it should be repealed entirely.

This would force Democrats to confront an uncomfortable truth – they’re simultaneously defending their original mandate while admitting it doesn’t work.

The strategic value goes beyond eggs. It would set a clear tone that the Lombardo administration won’t accept band-aid solutions to fundamentally flawed policies.

Democrats might spend millions on attack ads, but the governor would be standing on principle: Nevadans need real solutions, not politically expedient gestures that mask the failure of government overreach.

This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.