In case you missed it…

John Tsarpalas

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

John Tsarpalas

John Tsarpalas

President

John Tsarpalas is the President of the Nevada Policy, and is deeply committed to spreading limited government ideas and policy to create a better, more prosperous Nevada for all.

For over three decades, John has educated others in the ideals and benefits of limited government. In the 1980s, John joined the Illinois Libertarian Party and served on its State Central Committee. Later in the 90s, he transitioned to the Republican Party, and became active in the Steve Forbes for President Campaign and flat taxes.

In 2005, he was recruited to become the Executive Director of the Illinois Republican Party where he graduated from the Republican National Committee’s Campaign College, the RNC’s Field Management School, and the Leadership Institute’s activist training.

Additionally, John has served as President of the Sam Adams Alliance and Team Sam where he did issue education and advocacy work in over 10 states, with a focus on the web.

John also founded or helped start the following educational not-for-profits: Think Freely Media, the Haym Salomon Center – where he served as Chairman, the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity and Midwest Speaking Professionals.

A native of Chicago, John now lives in Las Vegas with his wife of more than 40 years.