In case you missed it…
Nevada Policy Anniversary Dinner
Save the Date! Join us on Tuesday, September 17th for Nevada Policy’s Anniversary Fundraiser! Nevada Policy is proud to be celebrating 28 years of promoting the principles of limited government, free markets and individual liberty in the Silver State. Get your tickets today, as this event will sell out soon! Click here for more information.
The National Education Association doesn’t care much about education
A proposed “new business item” which would place greater emphasis on student achievement was recently rejected by The National Education Association. This might come as a shock to those who think the NEA is concerned with improving education for our children, but critics have long understood that the organization’s primary concern is power and money. While improving student learning was struck down in a closed-door vote, other “social justice” and identity politics issues did receive support. Perhaps the priorities of the NEA are a glimpse into why union membership is in decline in Nevada with more and more education professionals choosing to opt-out each year. Read More
Transparency
The battle for government transparency continues as yet another government agency tries to blatantly circumvent Nevada’s open records law. Should communications between public employees about topics such as audits, budgets and public board meetings be made secret just because the agency’s legal counsel was cc’d on the email thread? That’s the reasoning that Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID) general counsel, Jason Guinasso, gave when resident Mark Smith submitted a public records request. “If this argument prevails in court, Nevada government employees statewide will be given free rein to hide any information they wish, as long as they send a copy of the correspondence to their general counsel,” said Robert Fellner NPRI’s Policy Director. This instance only further illustrates the need for real penalties for those who willfully break the open records law. Read More
Civil Forfeiture
Did you know that the government can take your car, house, business, or other property on the mere suspicion that it’s connected to criminal activity and without ever convicting or even charging you with a crime? In this stunning talk, Dick M. Carpenter II, explains how everyday people like you & me can fall prey to “policing for profit,” also known as civil forfeiture. Watch on YouTube.
Minimum wage
This week the House of Representative passed the Raise the Wage Act, which would increase the minimum wage nationally to $15 by 2026. While those lucky enough to keep their jobs will receive higher wages, between one to three million low-wage workers would lose their jobs entirely, according to a report by the Congressional Budget Office. Restaurants are already beginning to feel these “unintended consequences” in places like Seattle where a large chain, Restaurants Unlimited this week filed bankruptcy citing “increase wage expenses.” The Raise the Wage Act isn’t expected to pass the Senate. However, many states, like Nevada which just raised its minimum wage to $12, have already passed increased minimum wage measures. Read More