An editorial in today’s Las Vegas Review-Journal notes that “Democrats recoil in terror” at Elon Musk’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).”
It opines that this demonstrates the “disdain they have for the taxpayers forced to serve as a bottomless ATM for the political class while the nation careens toward bankruptcy.”
It goes on to note that “DOGE faces towering hurdles – including from many congressional Republicans, who could be as reluctant as their Democratic counterparts to have their home-state bacon targeted.”
Conservatives say we want smaller government. We say we want to cut waste.
But when it comes time to actually shut down an unnecessary agency, some folks who otherwise claim to be for smaller government get cold feet and dig in their heels.
Which brings me to Nevada’s Office of Small Business Advocacy (OSBA).
As reported recently here in Nevada News & Views, Assemblywoman Jill Dickman (R-Washoe) has a new bill, AB182, which would create a watchdog committee focused on finding and eliminating wasteful government spending.
Well, to get the DOGE ball rolling here in the Silver State, let’s take a look at the OSBA.
Sounds nice, right? After all, who doesn’t want to help small businesses?
But here’s the problem: This office, originally created by Democrats in 2021, is a classic example of government duplication. And duplication means wasted tax dollars.
The OSBA is supposed to help small businesses navigate state regulations, access resources, and resolve bureaucratic headaches.
But guess what? We already have multiple state and private sector organizations doing this exact same thing. Why are we paying for an extra layer of government when we don’t need it?
Most entrepreneurs and small business owners don’t even know the OSBA exists, let alone use its services, even though defenders will claim otherwise.
And let’s face it, if the problem is government regulations, the correct solution is to cut the regulations, not add another unnecessary layer of government bureaucracy.
Cutting Waste, Not Services
When it comes to cutting government, opponents always say, “But we need these services!”
No, what we need is efficiency. And the good news is, small business owners in Nevada already have plenty of places to turn for help.
Let’s start with the Nevada Department of Business and Industry, a cabinet-level agency whose mission includes encouraging and promoting the development and growth of businesses.
Yet for some reason the OSBA was placed under the purview of the lieutenant governor’s office instead of B&I, making this a classic example of “mission creep.” Defending it is more about fiefdom-building than government efficiency.
Need help with licensing? The Secretary of State’s office already handles that.
Need business funding? The Nevada Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers free consulting and guidance.
Need advocacy? Chambers of commerce – such as the Latin Chamber of Commerce- and organizations such as the Keystone Corporation and Nevada Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) fight for small businesses every day.
Then there’s SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), a nationwide, non-profit organization dedicated to helping small businesses launch, manage, and grow.
It’s a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which provides free and confidential business advice, mentoring, and workshops for entrepreneurs.
The Nevada Entrepreneur Network offers a streamlined application to help entrepreneurs start, scale, staff, and protect their businesses at no cost.
StartUpNV is a statewide business incubator that offers various programs to help entrepreneurs develop and scale their ideas.
Nevada Partners runs an Entrepreneurship Program designed to create new pathways to self-sufficiency and wealth-building for individuals.
Incubator Space, located in the Las Vegas/Henderson area, provides coworking and office space for startups, entrepreneurs, and freelancers.
Incubate Vegas offers free business development and startup services for first-time entrepreneurs and disadvantaged small businesses in Clark County.
The InNEVator Blockchain Accelerator, – run by UNR’s Innevation Center – focuses on helping blockchain startups grow rapidly.
And if all else fails when government gets in the way, that’s what we have elected legislators for!
So why do we need the OSBA?
We don’t. It’s duplicative, redundant, and a drain on our resources.
Elon Musk, love him or hate him, is shaking up government bureaucracies left and right in DC. He’s got a vision for efficiency, cutting red tape, and making things work faster and cheaper.
That’s exactly what Nevada should be doing.
Imagine if our state government operated more like a lean startup instead of a bloated bureaucracy. Imagine cutting waste, reducing regulations, and letting the private sector handle what it does best.
That’s the kind of efficiency we need. And the OSBA doesn’t fit into that vision.
What Critics Say – and Why They’re Wrong
Of course, not everyone agrees.
Some argue – including some self-professed fiscal conservatives – that small businesses still struggle with government bureaucracy.
No doubt! But adding more government to fix government is like putting out a fire with gasoline.
The answer isn’t more red tape. It’s cutting the red tape we already have.
Some say the OSBA is a lifeline for struggling businesses.
But if the private sector, the SBDC, SCORE, local chambers, etc., are already providing help, then why should taxpayers foot the bill for another layer of government?
Every dollar wasted on the OSBA is a dollar that could go to tax cuts, infrastructure, or real business-friendly reforms.
If Nevada is serious about cutting waste and making government work better, eliminating the OSBA should be a no-brainer.
We don’t need feel-good programs that duplicate services. We need real efficiency.
Let’s take a page from the Elon Musk playbook and start running government like a business.
That means cutting what’s unnecessary, streamlining what’s left, and letting the private sector do what it does best – helping small businesses thrive.
I know a number of Republicans support this government agency. But if they’re unwilling to slaughter their own fatted calves, it’s hypocritical to eye the Democrats’ porkers.
Nevada conservatives, it’s time to get serious about smaller government. And we can start by pulling the plug on OSBA.
Now, about that Office of New (non-)Americans…
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This column was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
