Voting

Part 1 of 2 on Five Key State Senate Races
CARSON CITY – Over the past several legislative sessions the state Senate Republican caucus has shown a willingness to work across the aisle with Democrats, with some GOP lawmakers voting more than once for tax increases as a way to balance the budget.

CARSON CITY – A member of the citizen’s panel appointed by lawmakers to chart Nevada’s future for the next 20 years expressed concern today about whether the process to be followed to complete the effort conforms to meet the requirements of the state Open Meeting Law.

The Carson City Board of Supervisors yesterday voted to proceed with investigating the lease or purchase of the Fireside building (or another similar structure) for the purpose of creating a business resource center. (You can replay the live blog of the meeting here.)

Former U.S. senator, Vietnam war hero, advocate for disabled veterans and author Max Cleland will speak to Democrats in Carson City on Wednesday, officials announced Sunday.

The Carson City Democratic Central Committee invited the former Georgia senator to speak about ongoing policy issues for the November midterm election. He will address the public at 7 p.m. in the AFSCME building at the southwest corner of Robinson and Roop streets in Carson City.

CARSON CITY — Nevadans who intend to vote early in the primary and general elections this year will likely find themselves in the dark on the question of who has contributed to the campaigns of the candidates.
Despite efforts in past legislative sessions to improve the transparency of campaign contributions received by candidates, lawmakers have failed to make meaningful reforms to the reporting process.

CARSON CITY – GOP Nevada U.S. Senate candidate John Chachas will stay in the race through the June primary despite a poor showing in a recent poll, saying today those results did not fully reflect a television ad campaign he initiated only recently.

CARSON CITY – Two of the four Republican candidates seeking to replace Sen. Randolph Townsend in state Senate District 4 in Washoe County attacked one another’s records in a debate televised today on the Nevada NewsMakers program.
Assemblyman Ty Cobb said one of his opponents, Ben Kieckhefer, has called for “revenue enhancements” which Cobb said is support for a tax increase. Kieckhefer denied the charge.

CARSON CITY – Nevada GOP U.S. Senate candidate and front-runner Sue Lowden said she expects a negative campaign from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid if she wins the crowded Republican primary in June.

The Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents decided to not consider Regent Mark Alden’s proposal to reduce the salaries of university staff during its meeting last week. Instead, the board focused on increasing student fees and cutting programs.

CARSON CITY – One of the major backers of a proposed 2008 measure aimed at raising the bar on tax increases said today a court ruling upholding the right of Tea Party of Nevada candidate Scott Ashjian to remain on the ballot shows the need for more clarity in state election law.

With veiled threats to the governors of Nevada and several other states last month by a far-right militia group, the amount of anti-government fervor may be boiling over nationally, but all is peaceful today in Carson City as more than a thousand have gathered at the Capitol to protest President Barack Obama, Sen. Harry Reid and health care.

Oh, and taxes. But there were far more anti-Obama and Harry Reid signs and a few Hitler ones than anything remotely about the IRS, today being the filing deadline for federal income taxes.

Congressman Dean Heller, firmly standing with his party and the health insurance industry, rejected a Democratic-led plan to provide affordable health care for Northern Nevadans.

CARSON CITY – The Independent American Party (IAP) this week released its list of candidates for 38 different offices, including the seat now held by U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and all three congressional seats. There are candidates for state and local offices as well.

With the Legislature reaching a deal to close the $800 billion shortfall late Sunday, party leaders referred to the intimidating difficulties they will face in next year’s session when legislators will have to deal with a projected $3 billion shortfall in the next biennium.

A successful public information campaign to spread the word about Carson's City's historic Virginia and Truckee Railroad grand opening were recognized and honored recently.

By Sean Whaley | Nevada News Bureau

(Updated at 12:04 p.m. on Feb. 16, 2010)

Well written. Provocative! Thank you for your contribution to the debate!

Regardless of where one falls on the morality and Family Values issues, the FBI does need to examine the financial accounting in Ensign’s office that may be fallout from the alleged affair.