{"id":42974,"date":"2020-11-27T11:40:56","date_gmt":"2020-11-27T18:40:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/?p=42974"},"modified":"2020-12-01T05:54:10","modified_gmt":"2020-12-01T12:54:10","slug":"the-further-misadventures-of-the-little-caucus-that-couldnt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/the-further-misadventures-of-the-little-caucus-that-couldnt\/","title":{"rendered":"The Further Misadventures of the Little Caucus that Couldn\u2019t"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"(Chuck Muth)<\/em>\u00a0– Republicans in the Nevada State Assembly continue to stir a cauldron of chaos over leadership decisions for the 2021 session.<\/p>\n

Minority Leader Robin Titus made a \u201cdeal with the devil\u201d and surrounded herself with three RINOs (Republican in Name Only) \u2013 Jill Tolles, Tom Roberts and Glen Leavitt – in the assistant leader and whip positions despite the fact that her new members have moved the caucus decidedly to the conservative right.<\/p>\n

The conservative freeze-out continued Monday when it was announced that Titus had tapped the three RINOs, plus a pair of RINO enablers, to serve on the powerful Ways & Means Committee even though none have any experience on Ways & Means whatsoever.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, Titus chose\u00a0NOT<\/u>\u00a0to appoint returning conservative Assemblywoman Jill Dickman to the committee even though she had experience serving on it during the 2015 session.\u00a0 Talk about an insult.<\/p>\n

And then there\u2019s this\u2026<\/p>\n

Last March 18 \u2013 the day after Gov. Sisolak ordered his first statewide shutdown \u2013 Assemblyman Jim Wheeler submitted a \u201cBill Draft Request\u201d (BDR) that \u201cLimits the duration of a state of emergency or declaration of disaster declared by the Governor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wheeler\u2019s LEAP (Limiting Emergency Actions & Powers) Act would require governors to seek legislative approval to continue issuing executive orders beyond a set time period.\u00a0 It makes all the sense in the world and is desperately needed in Nevada.<\/p>\n

Fast-forward to this past Monday.<\/p>\n

Assemblyman Wheeler \u2013 in response to Gov. Sisolak\u2019s Sunday declaration of ridiculous new COVID-related restrictions, including mandatory masks in your own home and limits on Thanksgiving dinners \u2013 issued a press release in opposition to the new dictatorial edicts\u2026<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cI have introduced a bill that will limit this Governor\u2019s, and future Governor\u2019s, emergency powers to 15 days without approval of the Legislature and that all directives given under those powers also be approved by the legislature.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cMy goal in pushing this bill is simple: If the Governor believes that it\u2019s necessary for him to continue to exercise emergency powers, then he should not be allowed to simply do so unilaterally and with no oversight.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cHe should have to come before lawmakers, make his case, and then let the people\u2019s representatives decide whether his emergency powers and edicts are to be extended. \u2026 We deserve a voice.\u00a0 The people of Nevada deserve a voice.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Indeed.\u00a0 Now get this\u2026<\/p>\n

The very next day, the Republican Assembly Caucus issued a rare press statement in which Titus declared caucus support for \u201cthe efforts of our Republican colleagues to rein in the governor\u2019s emergency powers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Interesting that she chose not to give specific credit where credit is due by recognizing, by name, Assemblyman Wheeler\u2019s early leadership on the issue.\u00a0 Adding insult to injury, the release includes a quote by a new caucus member rather than from Wheeler, the actual sponsor of the BDR.<\/p>\n

The hostility and animosity by Titus towards Wheeler – who Titus successfully ousted as Minority Leader with support from the RINOs at the end of the 2019 session – is palpable.\u00a0 And it doesn\u2019t help that the pair are expected to face off in a GOP primary for term-limited Sen. James Settelmeyer\u2019s seat in 2022.<\/p>\n

So expect the bad blood between the two to continue percolating throughout the 2021 session.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the teacher\u2019s union has gathered enough signatures to put two massive tax hikes in front of the Legislature when it convenes next February.\u00a0 To date, only GOP Assemblywoman Black has publicly announced her \u201cNo\u201d vote on those tax hikes.<\/p>\n

Where\u2019s the caucus press release announcing that all 15 GOP caucus members were joining Ms. Black in opposition?\u00a0 After all, if they all declare their united opposition, Democrats won\u2019t have the 2\/3 super-majority they need to stick you and me with those tax hikes.\u00a0 They\u2019ll be DOA (dead on arrival).<\/p>\n

Could it be there are members of the caucus who are\u00a0OPEN<\/u>\u00a0to voting for higher taxes?<\/p>\n

Bet on it.<\/p>\n

If this was a horse race, the Republican Assembly Caucus would be the horse that stumbles out of the gate and crashes into the ground \u2013 hooves, dirt and jockey flying in the air.<\/p>\n

In other words, the more things change, the more they stay the same.\u00a0 How embarrassing.<\/p>\n

Mask Queen Catches COVID<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the more annoying \u201cMask up!\u201d nanny-staters who\u2019s been lecturing and scolding us like children is Nevada Democrat Rep. Susie Lee.\u00a0 Here are a few of her Twitter posts on the subject over the past month\u2026<\/p>\n