Nevada’s Legislative session ended last month and there were a number of bills that made it past the Democrat-controlled House and Senate that weren’t in the best interest of Nevadans. Fortunately, Governor Joe Lombardo held the line on his campaign promises and vetoed a record number of bills, 75 to be exact.
The previous record was set by Governor Jim Gibbons in 2009 who vetoed 48 bills in a single session. Sandoval holds the highest veto record for any Nevada governor, he vetoed 97 bills during his eight years in office. Governor Lombardo now is second for highest veto record, and he’s only been in office since January.
After the governor vetoes a bill, it returns to the house of origin, either the Senate or Assembly, and members of the house must have a vote of a two-third majority to override the veto. With an overwhelming number of vetoes this year, Governor Lombardo has shown his commitment to provide a conservative voice to the Democratic noise.
Unfortunately, there was one bill that Governor Lombardo, and other elected Republicans had to compromise on, AB400. When proposed, the bill would have increased the state’s Opportunity Scholarship program and provide more access and public funding to the program in order to reach more students. The program has become a point of contention between Republicans and Democrats with the former pointing out the importance of choice for a school system that is overburdened. With the increase in spending for the K-12 system, the state can now afford to expand the Opportunity Scholarship program.
In an interview with The Nevada Independent in early-May, Senate Minority Leader Heidi Seevers Gansert (R-Reno) said, “Parents want choice. They want to send their child to a school that’s going to help them as much as possible. And if you’re low income, and you’re zoned in a neighborhood with underperforming schools, that’s kind of your only option.”
However, Assembly Democrats felt the program’s expansion was going too far and passed the bill with an amendment which removed those provisions which relate to private school vouchers and charter school authorization. For now, school choice has once again moved to the backburner of priorities for elected officials.
CALL TO ACTION: Let your elected representatives know that you, the people, want school choice. It’s vital parents and students have the opportunity for the education of their choosing and will bolster the public school system in Nevada through competition. I applaud Governor Lombardo for standing his ground on so many important issues. If his first Legislative Session is anything to go by, I hope to see positive changes for the state during his time in office. For a more comprehensive look at what passed, or didn’t pass, this session, read the August edition’s “Legislative Update” next month.
By Whose Authority?
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2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”