In case you missed it…
Labor unions
If the United States Supreme Court rules the way many labor experts expect, the entire nation could effectively become “right to work.” The court will soon hear the case of Mark Janus, an Illinois state employee who objects to being forced into paying fees to his local union. Currently, 28 states allow workers to “opt out” of paying dues or fees to their union entirely — but Illinois, like California to our west, is not among those states. A number of legal observers expect that with Judge Neil Gorsuch now on the high-court bench, the justices may well rule that unions cannot forcibly collect dues or fees from individuals who choose not to be members. (Read more)
Commerce Tax
Nevada’s Commerce Tax collects gross-receipts tax from businesses — but not all businesses are treated equally. Depending on the industry, businesses that receive over $4 million in gross revenue (not profits) are subjected to one of 26 different tax rates. Strangely, however, the Nevada Tax Department is claiming it has no way of reporting how much money was collected from each of those 26 different industries. It’s a surprising claim, given that the Department itself is tasked with levying those various rates. Failure to address this lack of transparency would indicate the Department is unwilling to have an honest and comprehensive debate about the impact of the unpopular tax before the 2018 election cycle. (Read more)
Government regulation
Shortly after Hurricane Irma ripped through Green Cove Springs, Florida, a Good Samaritan named Jack Roundtree decided to drive his BBQ food truck downtown and hand out free food to utility workers and community volunteers. However, there soon was a problem: A local restaurant owner reported the “unauthorized” mobile food operation to authorities. Local police arrived, and shut down Roundtree’s charitable gesture, because he had failed to obtain a permit from the city. (Read more)
Education
Clark County School District Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky is poised to collect quite a bonus when he retires next June at the age of 53. Skorkowsky will be cashing out nearly $170,000 in unused sick leave and vacation days on top of his full pension, which will pay out nearly 90 percent of his current pay. Those pension payments alone are estimated to be around $19,000 per month, not including upward cost of living adjustments in future years. (Read more)
Yucca Mountain
The public’s opinions on Yucca Mountain are mixed. But one thing is for sure: The debate is not going away anytime soon. Since 1987 it seems the issue has been more about politics than science or safety — but Nevadans deserve better. As Thomas Mitchell puts it, “Nevadans should be shrewd negotiators and not let opportunities be missed due to misguided fears.” (Read more)
Nevada Policy Research Institute’s 26th Anniversary
Thank you again to everyone who attended our 26th Anniversary celebration earlier this month. If you joined us, and had your picture taken with our keynote speaker, Dinesh D’Souza, and would like a copy of your photos, please contact Office@npri.org. We’ll be happy to get you your photo from that very special night. Thanks again!