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Nevada Resource Guide

December 4, 2007

Background

Upon its post-Civil War conception, Nevada boasted a strong Republican base, which lasted for decades. Yet for much of Nevada’s recent history, no political party can claim concrete control over the state or federal politics. However, on the local level, a clear political divide is present between North and South as Democrats maintain control over the political stronghold of Clark County. Political hold on key positions within the state teeter from North to South due to term limits being passed in both 1994 and 1996 by Nevada voters.

On the national level, the state has evolved politically into a “Bellwether” state as the pendulum of political power swings often back and forth shedding light on possible national shifts. Probably the most notable feature of Nevada’s political anatomy is that about 20% of voters in the state register as independents (Constitution, Libertarian, and Green); the number of Republican and Democrat registered voters is split at 40% each.

Issues

Initiative and Referendum

Power to the people! In 1905, an amendment giving voters the power of referendum was approved by the Nevada legislature and ratified by the voters by a margin of five to one. An amendment establishing the initiative process passed the legislature and was approved by Nevada voters in 1912.

Unlike most states with referendum, Nevada, along with Arkansas and Idaho, subject all legislative enactments to the possibility of being a ballot question. Moreover, unlike any other state, Nevada does not require spending reports by proponents and opponents of ballot questions.

Nevada has an initiative system that allows indirect process ─ the allowance of the legislature to submit competing ballot measures along with the original proposal. Nevada also can boast the ability for its citizenry to conduct constitutional/statutory initiatives. Initiatives amending the constitution must receive a majority vote in two consecutive general elections.

Federal Land Monopoly

Brace yourself…the federal government owns or controls 86% of the land in Nevada (89% of Clark County is subjugated). The Nevada Statehood Act handed over to the federal government a significant majority of the state’s land. The rational behind such action was that the federal government would sell the land to finance its Civil War debt. Guess what? The sales never occurred!

As expected, such a monopoly has produced economic detriment to the local citizenry from homeowners to developers. The federal government only allots a limited amount of land each year for eclectic purposes. Such a monopolistic hold has skyrocketed prices of the remaining privately owned land. The situation is turning into a crisis as the land available will not sustain current and prospective population growth. Such legislation also rips away any say from Nevada’s taxpayers as state and local governments have the first pick of land and the Secretary of the Interior maintains jurisdiction.

Eminent Domain

In November 2006, Nevada voters demonstrated their resolve not to permit government to abuse eminent domain. With over 60% of voters in agreement, the proposed constitutional amendment to sharply limit eminent domain by prohibiting “public use” for any transfer of property to a private party and placing the burden to prove public use on the government was passed. The citizen initiative will reappear on the 2008 ballot for final approval ─ as mentioned previously, constitutional amendments require a majority vote in two consecutive elections.

Think Tanks

Nevada Policy Research Institute
http://www.npri.org/

Action Groups

Nevada Taxpayers Association
http://www.nevadataxpayers.org/

Nevada Independent Conservatives Political Action Committee
http://conservablogs.com/nicpac/

EdWatch Nevada
http://www.edwatchnevada.com/

Blogs

Budget Watch Nevada:
http://conservablogs.com/bwn/

Joe Enge – EdWatch Nevada
http://conservablogs.com/joeenge/

Nevada Independent Conservatives Political Action Committee Blog
http://conservablogs.com/nicpac/

Nevada Legislative Policy Committee
http://conservablogs.com/nvlpc/

Muth’s Truths
http://www.conservablogs.com/muthstruths/