According to a recent opinion piece published by the reliably liberal Las Vegas Sun, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo is supposedly cheering on a federal budget bill that will “cost Nevada dearly.”
But after you read through the political posturing and scare tactics, one thing becomes clear: the writers are more interested in trashing Lombardo than telling the full story.
The column, written by two Democrat lawmakers – State Sen. Rochelle Nguyen and Assemblywoman Danielle Monroe Moreno – claims the new “One Big Beautiful Bill” will gut Nevada’s health care, cut food assistance, and wreck the state’s budget.
Sounds ominous, right? But it’s really just One Big Beautiful Lie.
Here’s what they’re not telling you.
Medicaid “Cuts” Are About Accountability
The authors say the bill will strip health care from more than 100,000 Nevadans.
What they leave out is this: those affected are mostly able-bodied adults without kids who should be working.
The bill doesn’t take away coverage from children, seniors, or the disabled. It simply tightens the rules so people who can work are expected to do so.
That’s not cruel. It’s common sense. Taxpayers should not be expected to foot the bill for people who choose not to work.
And let’s not forget: Medicaid fraud is real.
A 2022 audit by the Department of Health and Human Services found that improper Medicaid payments nationwide totaled nearly $81 billion.
That’s not pennies. Cleaning that up frees up money for people who truly need it.
SNAP Reforms Target Waste, Not the Needy
The Democrats’ column claims half a million Nevadans will see food assistance slashed. But again, they’re leaving out the key fact…
The bill restores work requirements for able-bodied adults receiving food stamps.
It doesn’t take food from children or the elderly. It asks working-age folks without dependents to either work, train, or volunteer part-time to stay eligible.
That’s hardly “slashing” benefits. It’s setting a fair expectation.
About That Budget Hole…
The column also claims Lombardo’s budget had a $330 million shortfall.
What they don’t mention is that the shortfall came from revised revenue projections – not runaway spending.
Like most governors, Lombardo presented a budget based on the numbers available at the time.
When the Economic Forum downgraded estimates, adjustments had to be made. That’s how budgeting works.
It’s not “incompetence.” It’s reality.
And speaking of budgets, Nevada’s real problem isn’t federal policy, it’s the rising cost of tourism.
Visitors are turning away from Las Vegas, not because of tariffs, food stamps or Medicaid, but because of sky-high resort fees, paid parking, overpriced food, and watered-down cocktails.
Blaming Lombardo and Trump for fewer tourists is like blaming them for the weather.
The “Tax Cuts for Billionaires” Myth
This old line never goes away.
The truth is tax relief in the OBBB helps small businesses and middle-class families by encouraging work and investment.
Nevada’s economy doesn’t grow when we hand out more government checks. It grows when people start businesses, take jobs, and earn more.
The column also complains that Lombardo didn’t “stand up to Trump.”
Translation: he didn’t play partisan games.
Instead, he supported a budget that reins in waste, respects taxpayers, and restores fiscal sanity. That’s what leadership looks like.
Rather than whining from the sidelines, Lombardo is focused on real-world fixes – such as boosting public safety, improving education, and cutting red tape for job creators.
He’s doing the work to, as he once famously put it, “get sh*t done,” while his Democrat critics write columns.
Here’s what’s really happening…
Nevada Democrats are mad because their federal gravy train is slowing down. They’re worried that without endless federal cash, they might actually have to set priorities, cut waste, and make tough decisions.
Gov. Lombardo isn’t the problem. He’s the adult in the room.
And for hardworking Nevadans who believe in personal responsibility, balanced budgets, and honest government, that’s a breath of fresh air.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
