Prevailing Wage System Needs Fixing

Nevada leads the country in unemployment, foreclosures and bankruptcies.  It also tops the list for having some of the highest prevailing wages in the country.

Prevailing Wage is a system governed by the Labor Commission that establishes the compensation for employees working on government projects. The Labor Commission annually surveys contractors in each county to determine what the prevailing wage for each job will be. Under the current law, contractors can include in their estimates to the Labor Commission, pensions, health and welfare, vacation and holiday pay, the cost of apprenticeship training and additional benefits. As a result, public employees working on government projects frequently receive twice the compensation as they would on private projects.

Republican lawmakers are trying to fix the flawed prevailing wage system with A.B. 312.  The passage of A.B. 312 would implement sound economic policy, allowing competitive bidding for government projects. It also removes the surveyed contractors ability to include any potential future benefits in their estimated wage.

Assemblyman Cresent Hardy, R-Mesquite, is leading the charge on revising prevailing wage and is the main sponsors of A.B. 312. “Our economy in Nevada is suffering,” said Assemblyman Hardy. “The unchecked prevailing wage system is a significant contributor to our budget woes.  We cannot afford to pay inflated labor wages for government projects while the rest of the state and its employees are tightening their financial belts,” said Hardy.

The current prevailing wage system is having a negative effect on Nevada’s economy, specifically the construction industry. “Inflated prevailing wages results in fewer construction projects, fewer jobs, higher unemployment and more people relying on tax funded benefit programs,” said Hardy “Prevailing wage is about government accountability. As lawmakers, we need to be better stewards of the resources we have and look for ways to put more Nevada’s back to work,” said Hardy

A.B 312 was referred to the Assembly Ways and Means committee on April 18.  No action has been taken.

While Republican lawmakers examine ways to do more with less, Democrat lawmakers continue to call for a $1.2 billion tax increase.

Democrats Pass Partisan Redistricting Plan

          Democrats in the Nevada Legislature today approved a partisan plan to redraw the state's Congressional and state legislative districts. 

Despite the fact that Nevadans have chosen two Republicans and one Democrat to represent them in Congress, the Democrat Congressional plan creates 3 districts likely to elect Democrats and only 1 likely to elect a Republican.

"It is an outrage," said Senator Michael Roberson, speaking on the Senate floor in opposition to the plan. "Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle think that they should decide who will represent us in Congress- and not the people."

In the Nevada Senate, where Democrats currently hold a single-seat advantage- they have created 13 districts likely to elect Democrats, only 5 likely to elect Republican candidates, and 3 that will be competitive.

In the Assembly, the Democrat plan creates 26 districts that favor Democrats, only 8 that favor Republicans, and * more that are likely to be competitive. 

The Democrat plan usurps the will of the voters by drawing the state's electoral map to ensure that a single party- the Democrat party- will dominate Nevada's elections for the next ten years.

In the 2010 general election, Nevadans cast significantly more votes for Republican candidates than for Democrat candidates.

In the Gubernatorial race, Republican Brian Sandoval received +12% more votes than the Democratic candidate. In the same election, Republicans received +6% more votes in Congressional races, +15% more votes in Nevada Senate races, and +10% more votes in Nevada Assembly races.

Said Assemblyman Scott Hammond, following the Assembly vote: "The worst part of the Democratic plan is that they are doing this at the expense of the Hispanic community." 

Autism Treatment Assistance Program

      Carson City – Legislators on the Assembly Ways and Means Committee will consider A.B. 315 and A.B. 316 today. A.B. 315 would establish the Autism Treatment Assistance Program (ATAP) as the primary treatment program for children through the age of 19 years. A.B. 316 establishes regulations to assess and evaluate persons with autism who receive services though public programs.

Currently, autism services in the Nevada are divided across three divisions withinthe Department of Health and Human Services:

• The Division of Aging and Disability Services
• Mental Health and Development services, and

• The Health Division 

Consolidation of these services would ensure that state funding for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) would be used effectively, funding only evidence-based treatments.

The primary sponsor of the legislation is Assemblywoman Melissa Woodbury, R-Las Vegas. Woodbury, an educator for 16 years, has been actively pursuing ways to improve treatment to special needs children. 9 of her 16 years as an educator have been spent teaching children with special needs.

“ Having spent most of my years in the Clark County School District teaching children with special needs, three of those years devoted specifically to teaching children with autism, as well as having a nephew with autism, I have seen first-hand the impact the disorder has on the lives of many individuals with autism and their families,” said Woodbury. “ The goal of this bill is to provide consistency, improve  outcomes for children with Autism in Nevada, and reduce the long-term cost to taxpayers,” said Woodbury.



The price tag to provide lifetime care for one untreated low-functioning person with autism can run as high as $6 million. Most of that cost is in adult care.

“ I have seen the difference that early, intensive intervention can make. Autism is treatable and I remain devoted to improving outcomes both in my personal teaching interactions as well as with legislation that will open the doors for all children with autism to receive early diagnosis and appropriate, evidence-basedtreatment,” said Woodbury

A .B. 315 and A.B. 316 have received bi-partisan support in the State Assemblyand the State Senate.

Democrats Propose Historic Tax Increases

         Carson City- Democrat lawmakers announced a tax plan today that would increase state taxes to historic highs.

"Raising taxes is a decision that ignores the economic reality that Nevada faces," said Assembly Minority Leader Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka. "We are focused on providing a sensible approach to meet the needs of the state. Raising taxes is not the answer. Doing so jeopardizes the stability of our economy," said Goicoechea.

The Democrat's historic tax increase plan comes two days after the Governor's economic forum released projections showing $274 million in revenue increases. Republicans would like to see any additional revenue received directed towards education.

"The additional projected revenue should be used to help fund K-12 and higher education," said Assemblyman Scott Hammond, R-Las Vegas. "As an educator, I understand the financial difficulties facing teachers and students in the classroom. As a legislator, I also understand the difficulties facing the state. We have proposed reasonable steps that will satisfy both challenges," said Hammond.

The Republican Assembly Caucus is against any tax increase and is committed to insuring accountability for the resources that are currently available.