Nevada Congressman Mark Amodei offered a successful amendment on Tuesday to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill for next year, which would shift $44 million for mandatory overtime to the VA Regional Offices with the worst disability claims backlogs — greater than 365 days.

Of the 15 VAROs on the list, Reno’s backlog, with an average claims process of 504 days, is the second worst in the nation behind Los Angeles (576 days). The amendment passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 248 to 172.

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Legislature reconvened for a brief a special session on Tuesday morning to finish up work on several bills that were not passed in time to meet Monday’s midnight deadline for the end of the 77^th regular session.

Gov. Brian Sandoval ordered the 27^th Special Session during the predawn hours of Tuesday. Legislators worked through the morning to pass five measures, including one that will allow the Board of County Commissioners in Clark County to raise the Sales and Use Tax in order to fund the hiring of additional police officers.

Nevada's two Northern Nevada rural colleges, Western Nevada College in Carson City and Great Basin College in Elko, had hopes to escape budget cuts despite the fact that the new funding formula for the Nevada System of Higher Education that sends more money to Southern Nevada colleges.

CARSON CITY — Nevada Senate members became emotional Monday evening as they honored those who would not return for another session.

Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, who serves as Senate president, faces a term limit that does not allow him to serve again in the Senate. That makes the last day of the session his last day in the Legislature.

The senators took time out of the floor session to honor their colleague saying that they were proud to have served with him, and even giving him a coffee machine as a parting gift.