Links and feed from SessionAccess.org, a service of KUNR and KNPB

• Wed, 21 Sep 2011 23:19:00 +0000: Nevada Redistricting Process to Include Public Input - SessionAccess.org
  Open meetings will be held next month to give the public a chance to weigh in on Nevada's redistricting process, which is being run by the judicial branch.
  
  Full Story @ KUNR >>
  
• Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:48:00 +0000: Unfinished Redistricting Delaying 2012 Election Calendar - SessionAccess.org
  Candidates would normally be laying the groundwork to run for positions in the state legislature. There's just one problem- they don't have clearly drawn districts to run in yet.
  
  
  Read more @ Las Vegas Sun>>
  
• Tue, 07 Jun 2011 22:55:00 +0000: Do Sunsets Allow Nev. to Procrastinate on Serious Tax Reform? - SessionAccess.org
  UNR Economist Elliot Parker says renewing the so-called "sunset" taxes allows Nevada to procrastinate another two years on serious tax reform for the state. Story @ RGJ>>
  
• Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:32:00 +0000: 76th Legislative Session Ends With a Flurry of Deals - SessionAccess.org
  The 76th regular session of the Nevada Legislature ended in the early morning hours Tuesday, without the need for a last-minute special session.
  
  The final day saw a flurry of activity, including finishing off the $6.2 billion budget deal complete with a tax compromise.
  
  Several controversial policy bills made it through in the final hours and now head to the Governor's desk.
  
  They include a weakening of Nevada's voter-enacted smoking ban, a threat to pull Nevada out of TRPA (the bi-state agency that protects Lake Tahoe), and a measure that will give the state most of the money casinos collect after cashout vouchers expire.
  
  The mining industry lost a couple battles in the waning hours.
  
  Lawmakers passed a bill taking away some mining tax exemptions and set the stage for a potential ballot question to repeal the constitutional five percent cap on that tax.
  
  Three bills specific to Northern Nevada passed at the eleventh hour: a surcharge on tickets for the Reno Aces, a special room tax for downtown Reno, and a Washoe County version of the "school works" bill that would allow the school district to use its excess bond reserves.
  
  More details and audio @ KUNR.org »
  
• Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:02:00 +0000: Session Will End With One Issue Unsolved - SessionAccess.org
  
  There are lots of people celebrating the end of the legislative session, regardless of how the outcomes worked or didn’t work for them.  But even after sine die, there’s still one unfinished piece of business casting a shadow over legislators….reapportionment.
  
  
  Democrats, who hold a slight majority in the legislature, passed their plans for redistricting. As expected, Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval vetoed those plans.
  
  
  So the two parties are at an impasse.  The issue is now set to go to court, something both parties have been prepared for from the very outset of the session.
  
  
  Assembly Speaker John Oceguera (D) says the court could create the maps for new districts on their own, not necessarily rule something unconstitutional and throw it back to the legislature to decide.
  
  “I think the governor at this point is resolved not to call us back into special session, but certainly the Supreme Court could say ‘this is your issue, you have to resolve it,” notes Oceguera.
  
  He hopes that’s not the way it goes and that justices do make a decision.
  
  
  Assemblyman Lynn Stewart (R) points out that it could take a judge months to decide, even till January.
  
  
  Dale Erquiaga, the Governor’s Senior Advisor, says the governor does not want to call a special session for any reason.
  
  “If this matter does go to court as everyone suspects, I think we’ll leave it there," said Erquiaga. "Although the Governor has not made a statement about that as of this time.”