Blogs

Governor Brian Sandoval touts Nevada's improving economy

As Nevada's economy improves and Governor Brian Sandoval prepares his budget for release in January 2013, we're left to wonder how and when the Governor and the legislature will resture the cuts they've made.

 

 

Las Vegas Review Journal 04/28/2012

 

 

Las Vegas Review Journal 06/27/2012

 

 

 

Las Vegas Sun Opinion Editorial: State Showing Positive Signs for Business Growth 08/26/2012

 

 

 

 

Open letter to Tim Crowley, Nevada Mining Association President

Below is an open letter sent to Nevada Mining Association President Tim Crowley.

 

We hope that you can take a few moments to tweet or facebook the Nevada Mining Association and ask them to voluntarily disclose how much money they're spending on our elected officials at their annual convention.

 

 

Or post a message on their Facebook page by clicking here. 

(You will have to comment on their most recent update, Nevada Mining Association has disabled the function that allows facebook users to share messages on their wall)

 

 

BREAKING: Federal judge agrees to hear Nevada marriage equality lawsuit

 

 

 

Good news for people who support the freedom to marry in Nevada:

 

(Las Vegas, August 10, 2012)—The U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada today agreed to hear a lawsuit brought by Lambda Legal on behalf of eight same-sex couples challenging Nevada’s law banning marriage for same-sex couples.

 

From the Prop 8 Trial Tracker: The two motions discussed in the hearing today were: 

 

(1) a motion to intervene by the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage (approved)

 

(2) a motion to dismiss by Governor Brian Sandoval based on Baker v. Nelson. (FAIL)

 

“This is an

Give Us a Break, Senator Heller!

 

After a Failed Attempt to Extend Tax Cuts for the Wealthiest 2% Senator Heller Votes to Raise Taxes on the Middle Class

Senator Heller’s vote perpetuates unfair tax system and sends a message to Nevada families that if the wealthiest cannot have more tax breaks then no one can

Reno, NV – PLAN criticized Senator Dean Heller for perpetuating an unfair tax system by voting today against the Middle Class Tax Cut Act (S. 3412). The bill, which passed despite Senator Heller's "No" vote, extends the Bush-era tax cuts for 98 percent of families earning less than $250,000 in household income, but

Storey County Commission overrules residents, allowing mining company take over local road

PLANNING COMMISSION VIOLATES OPEN MEETING LAW AND ALLOWS DANGEROUS AND UNNECESSARY SHORTCUT TO PRODUCTION ON 3-2 VOTE FOR OPEN PIT MINE IN HISTORIC LANDMARK

Guest blog by Steve Funk

Reno, NV July 20, 2012 — On Thursday night 7/19/12 at the Storey County Courthouse, the Storey County Planning Commission voted 3-2 to amend the Comstock/Plum 2000 Special Use Permit and to allow the hauling of ore by Comstock Mining Inc. on public thoroughfare State Route 342, despite passionate testimony of affected area residents.

The action was taken based on advice from the District Attorney that the County

Rep. Amodei's Minerals Production Act: Bad for Nevada

 

Tell Congress: Put People Above Mining Profits

Bob Fulkerson, PLAN executive director

 

Congressman Mark Amodei, who moonlighted as a State Senator while also serving as President of the Nevada Mining Association, has introduced a bill that would nearly abolish the public’s right to participate in the management of mining claims on lands that belong to all of us.

The National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012 (H.R. 4022) could come up for a vote on the House floor as early as Wednesday.

Nevadans and others must speak out against this bill that will:

  • Eliminate

SCOTUS strikes down most of Arizona's insidious immigration law

 

Blog by, Laura Martin

06/25/2012

Today the Supreme Court of the United States struck down three of four provisions in Arizona's repugnant immigration law, Senate Bill 1070.

 

Some have said, including Senator Majority Leader and our Senator Harry Reid, that the only provision that was upheld will lead to a system of racial profiling. But that system already exists. If you look at the demographics of arrestees (especially in New York) its clear that race has played a HUGE role in who is arrested and why.

Nevada taxpayers and the Bush Tax Cuts

Blog by, Laura Martin lmartin@planevada.org

06/20/2012

 

Middle-income and low-income Nevadans would pay somewhat more in taxes under the Congressional Republicans’ approach to extending the Bush tax cuts than they would under President Obama’s approach, while high-income Nevadans would pay far less under the Republican approach, according to a new analysis from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) and Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ).  National figures show the same pattern.

 

Under President Obama’s approach, in 2013, the poorest 20 percent of Nevadans would receive an

Uniting Communities Kicks Off to a Great Start in Las Vegas

 

Blog by D'Andre Balaoing, PLAN Community Organizer
06/04/2012

 

Last Thursday was a huge day for PLAN: not only did PLAN unveil its nearly year-long programming effort Uniting Communities to the public, but I was honored with the privilege of sharing the space with over 25 progressives and community leaders of Southern Nevada. A collaborative effort between Western States Center and PLAN, the Uniting Communities program is designed to explore the existing wedges that so often divide the LGBTQ community from their members of color; and the forces that sever them from building meaningful

Don't raise my rates: HUD Secretary holds a townhall with PLAN

 

Blog by Howard Watts III, PLAN field director

05/08/2012

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure and honor of introducing and sitting with Shaun Donovan, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, for a town hall on student debt and housing at PLAN. I admit, I knew very little about Secretary Donovan before I started planning the town hall, but I quickly learned, as did the attendees at the town hall, that we were a good match. Secretary Donovan had worked as a community organizer early in his career, and we may have in fact been trained in organizing by some of the same folks.

Sandoval has a change of heart, decides to stop draining funds from education

 

 

Governor Brian Sandoval released a statement today claiming he will make no new cuts to Nevada's already bare education coffers and he will also re-extend the nearly $600 million sunset taxes.

 

His statement reads in part:

 

“On Thursday, the Budget Office will be releasing budget instructions for the next biennium as we prepare for the 2013 Legislature. In order to avoid cuts to education and other essential services, revenues from the sunset taxes will need to be continued.

A gift of freedom

 

Our fabulous intern Stacey Shinn has been in Alabama for almost a week, and she'll be joined by staffer Elvira Diaz today on the anniversay of Bloody Sunday. Check out blogs HERE and HERE explaining the significance of their travels and follow us on Twitter too. 

 

I wanted to share this story she told me about her flight to Alabama Saturday:

 

"I met a woman on my third flight today. I was explaining to her why I was headed to Alabama and all about the march. She took the bracelet she was wearing off her wrist and handed it over to me.

From Selma to Montgomery, PLAN intern Stacey Shinn marches on

Right at this moment PLAN intern Stacey Shinn is somewhere between Selma and Montgomery Alabama, marching with thousands of other voting rights activists, recreating the historic march that was a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, moving Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act.

 

The annual "Bridge Crossing Jubilee" in Selma, commemorating its 47th year, is the recognition of an era when attempts by African Americans to register to vote were met with bloody consequences. The original marchers never made it across the bridge. They were brutally beaten by state and local police.

 

PLAN staff heading to Alabama in honor of a historic march

 

March 7, 1965. Bloody Sunday. White resistance to African Americans registering to vote reached a bloody apex in Selma during a student organized and led voting rights march. More than 600 students, including current US Congressman John Lewis, were brutally beaten by police.

 

Hosea Williams and John Lewis confront troopers on Bloody Sunday during the Selma to Montgomery march. Part of a collection documenting the march by Spider Martin, photojournalist. 

 

These series of marches were pivotal in the Civil Rights Movement.

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