As the saying goes, politics makes strange bedfellows.
And that saying has never been more true as it is during this not-so-special session of the Nevada Legislature over AB5 – the “Hollywood Handout.”
It’s actually a little mind-blowing.
Some of the most conservative Republicans are teaming up with some of the most liberal Democrats to try to kill this bill. Talk about bi-partisanship!
Here’s the latest outrage as it relates to dumbass Republicans.
The rule is, a bill has to be read before the entire Assembly on three consecutive days before it can be voted on.
The Hollywood Handout was passed out of committee yesterday – with some Republican votes (ugh). So AB5 was scheduled for its first reading today.
And Democrat leaders called for an “emergency” suspension of the rule so the bill could be voted on TODAY.
But it takes a 2/3 super-majority vote to suspend the rules.
And a majority of Democrats voted to suspend the rules, but not enough to get the 2/3 super-majority.
Now get this…
TEN Republicans voted WITH the majority of Democrats to suspend the rules and bring the bill up for a vote TODAY. Un-freaking-believable.
But five Assembly Republicans had the cojones to vote against suspending the rule and allowing the Hollywood Handout to come up to a vote today.
Those five gave the Democrat minority the exact number of votes they needed to block the rule suspension: Jill Dickman, Alexis Hansen, Melissa Hardy, Rebecca Edgeworth, and Bert Gurr.
Look, the longer this bill floats around for voters to learn about it, the less likely it is to pass.
That’s why the Democrat leadership and the studio’s lobbyists were desperately trying to force an immediate vote today.
Now, here’s what really p*sses me off…
Several of the Republicans who voted today to suspend the rules will ultimately vote against the bill. So why would they vote to suspend the rules and rush this thing through?
Because they want to go home.
They don’t want to be in Carson City this weekend doing the job they sought and were elected to do – which is representing their constituents who, by the way, OVERWHELMINGLY oppose this proposal.
Shameful.
And this just in…
I’m told that freshman Assemblywoman Lisa Cole (R-Clark) – a “Hollywood Handout” supporter – is warning her GOP colleagues that if they don’t pass the studio bill the Democrats will kill the governor’s crime bill.
Some thoughts:
First, if this is true it’s extremely disappointing. Conservatives had high hopes for Assemblywoman Cole.
Secondly, if the threat is true – and there’s some doubt that it is – give the Democrats credit.
They know how to play hardball – something the weanie Republicans in the Assembly have never learned, let alone mastered.
If the GOP had a true leader rather than Assemblyman Greg Hafen, they would have stuck together and forced the Democrats to include a school choice component in exchange for the studio.
And thirdly, that crime bill isn’t an “emergency” and simply isn’t worth giving Hollywood $1.5 BILLION – especially if Democrats aren’t willing to restore funding for Opportunity Scholarships.
And lastly…
While I think every Republican county party organization is steadfastly opposed to AB5, the Nevada Republican Party issued a letter earlier this week in support of it.
As such there are new calls for Chairman Michael McDonald’s scalp.
What a fuster-cluck. These Republicans could screw up a two-car funeral.
Stay tuned, Batfans.
P.S. If you’d like to suggest that Assembly Minority Leader Greg Hafen grow some testicles, here’s his contact information:
Assemblyman Greg Hafen
Carson City Phone: (775) 684-8805
Email: Gregory.Hafen@asm.state.nv.us
FAMOUS LAST WORDS
“Hearing rumblings that they (Democrats) *currently* don’t have the votes to pass Hollywood handouts. Now the pressure on those opposed to Hollywood handouts will be intense. Pray for courage for those standing up for students and opposed to taxpayer giveaways. The public supports you even if the lobbyists don’t.” – Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Victor Joecks
