(John Tsarpalas) – If you ever needed proof that Nevada’s legislature can turn a simple Thursday into a political circus, yesterday’s special session kick off was it.
Picture 21 lawmakers shouting “Yes,” 21 shouting “No,” and the rest of us shouting, “Why on earth are we doing this?”
And all of this… for Hollywood.
Assembly Bill 5 — the giant, glitter-dusted film tax credit expansion — squeaked its way into the Committee on Jobs and Economy after a dead-even vote.
A single vote could have ended the whole thing. But no.
The bill lives on, shuffling forward like an aging celebrity clinging to relevance.
And what’s waiting for us?
A hearing room full of lobbyists promising “jobs,” “pipeline programs,” and “economic magic” — the same lines California’s been sold for decades.
Even former Governor Brian Sandoval and university presidents showed up to cheer the thing on. Hollywood really knows how to pack a room.
But here’s the problem: Nevada doesn’t run on red carpets. Nevada runs on reality.
And reality says transferable film tax credits have a long, disappointing track record of burning taxpayer dollars faster than a studio burns through sequels.
So Nevada Policy did what Nevada Policy always does: we told the truth.
We testified against this bill — against the ballooning costs, the billion-dollar corporate carveouts, the empty promises of “long-term jobs,” the budget risks shifted onto taxpayers, and the fantasy that this credit expansion will somehow fix education funding in the fifth-largest school district in the nation.
Click here to watch our testimony
Because unlike lawmakers and lobbyists, we don’t deal in promises. We deal in policy.
Today at 11 a.m., the committee reconvenes. The pressure will be enormous. Studio lobbyists don’t take days off. Teachers’ unions don’t take days off. But neither do we.
This is where you come in.
If you want to take direct action, you can contact your legislator through our Action Center.
Click here to let your voice be heard
The vote is tight — painfully tight. One voice could change everything.
Nevada doesn’t want Hollywood. Nevada wants accountability. Nevada wants honesty. Nevada wants policy that works.
And with your support, that’s exactly what we’ll keep fighting for — today, tomorrow, and every time someone tries to sneak a blockbuster into our budget.
Thank you for standing with us.
Mr. Tsarpalas is President of Nevada Policy. The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views.
