Archive for July, 2010

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Jobless Benefits For Thousands Of Unemployed Nevadans Set To Resume With Approval Of Extension

By Nevada News Bureau Staff | 10:39 am July 23rd, 2010

CARSON CITY – Thousands of unemployed Nevadans will soon see their jobless benefits restored with final Congressional approval Thursday of a six-month extension of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program.

There are currently about 93,670 people receiving unemployment benefits in Nevada, according to the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR). The number of individuals who are affected by the May expiration of EUC and State Extended Benefits (SEB) programs continue to grow as well. There are nearly 40,000 people who have lost their benefits since the EUC and SEB programs expired.

The EUC extension signed by President Obama on Thursday will last through November. The mid-term general election is Nov. 2.

Nevada’s unemployment rate hit 14.2 percent in June, a new record for the state. About 193,000 Nevadans are looking for work.

Approval means up to 73 weeks of federal jobless benefits for the unemployed who have already exhausted their 26 weeks of state benefits. The measure will cost $34 billion nationwide.

“The department continues proactive work and planning in order to restart benefits as soon as possible after the EUC programs are reinstated,” said DETR Deputy Director Cynthia Jones. “We have carefully staged our systems to ensure their ability to handle the accurate processing of claims; and with the help of our claimants in following the plan, benefits will be paid in an efficient and expedient manner.”

The department has continued accepting EUC applications to help the process move more quickly in anticipation of the bill passing, said Jones, who also serves as administrator of the Employment Security Division.

“There are some things in this legislation that require interpretation and instructions for program implementation as the bill contains other provisions that impact unemployment programs, on top of reinstating the Emergency Unemployment Compensation programs,” she said.

Within seven to ten days of the bill passage, claimants will start receiving letters stating they are on the list of individuals potentially eligible to receive extended benefits, Jones said. The letters will have specific instructions to prevent claimants from waiting unnecessarily on the phone lines. Claimants are asked to refrain from calling telephone claim centers until they receive this notification in the mail, signaling that their claim has been automatically reopened; the new funds have been added and that the agency is now ready for their weekly claims to be filed.

“We are asking for the public’s cooperation so that these much needed benefits can be paid out as soon as possible,” she said.

Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., was one of 31 Republicans in the House who supported the program’s restoration.

Heller said he voted for the bill despite failing to get the Democratic majority to support an amendment to use unobligated stimulus funds to pay for the benefits.

“Nevadans across the state are struggling to get by,” he said. “While I believe that this legislation should have been paid for, I do not believe the unemployed should be held accountable for the failed economic policies of the Administration and this Congress.

“There are ways to pay for this extension, and help the unemployed, without contributing to the deficit,” Heller said.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

Former Governor Kenny Guinn Dies

By Elizabeth Crum | 12:36 pm July 22nd, 2010

It’s being reported – not sure who had the news first – that former governor Kenny Guinn fell of his roof and died earlier today.

Guinn, a Republican who was well liked in the state, was first elected in 1998, then ran for re-election and won in 2002.  He was 73.

Guinn leaves behind his wife, Dema, and two sons.

I’ll update this post with a round-up of statements about the tragedy later today.

Tags:
Posted in E!!Politics | 1 Comment »

Firm Hired To Produce Study of Nevada Revenue Structure Sent Notice Of Default

By Sean Whaley | 12:13 pm July 22nd, 2010

CARSON CITY – A firm hired by the Nevada Legislature to produce a report on the state’s revenue structure has been sent a notice of default for failing to turn in the document by a July 1 deadline.

Lorne Malkiewich, director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau, said the notice was sent Wednesday to Moody’s Analytics, the contractor hired to perform the study. The company has 10 days to respond by producing the final report or the contract will be terminated, he said.

Malkiewich said an effort was made to negotiate an extension with the West Chester, Penn., based firm without success.

The firm has not been paid the $253,000 for its work on the study, he said.

Mark McMullen with Moody’s, the author of the draft report, referred an inquiry to the firm’s legal department, which could not immediately be reached for comment.

Malkiewich said an arrangement may still be worked out with Moody’s.

Members of the Interim Finance Committee’s Subcommittee to Conduct a Review of Nevada’s Revenue Structure were advised Wednesday in a memo of the decision to issue the notice of default.

The firm produced a draft report that was rejected in May by the Vision Stakeholder Group, a panel of 19 Nevada residents appointed by the Legislature to assist in the revenue study. The group’s charge was to produce a document highlighting what the group wanted Nevada to look like over the next several years.

The draft report included a discussion on taxes but did not include any specific recommendations.

The draft report said Nevada should: “Stabilize government program fund­ing levels by diversifying the tax base, using alternatives to general funds to support public investments, expanding rainy-day funds and securitizing future revenue streams.”

After rejecting the draft at its May 14 meeting, Moody’s was expected to work on a new draft and bring it back to the group for review and approval. No new meeting of the Vision Stakeholder Group has ever been scheduled.

The revenue study has been controversial from the beginning, with critics, including Gov. Jim Gibbons, calling it a thinly disguised effort by some to push for new taxes in the 2011 legislative session. Gibbons rejected a measure passed by the 2009 Legislature to fund the study.

Lawmakers, lead by Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, then decided to use legislative funds to pay for the review instead.

Supporters say there are no pre-ordained conclusions for a tax increase expected from the study.

Lawmakers are facing a revenue shortfall in the next budget that could total as much as $3.5 billion. The shortfall could mean huge cuts to state programs and education without new revenue. A collection of temporary tax hikes approved by the Legislature in 2009 to balance the current budget are set to expire next June 30.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

Chachas Co-hosts NYC Reception for NV GOP Governor Candidate Brian Sandoval

By Elizabeth Crum | 7:26 pm July 21st, 2010

Interesting, from former U.S. Senate candidate John Chachas this afternoon:

In the process of logging thousands of miles in Nevada, I had the great pleasure of spending a good deal of time with Brian Sandoval, who we Nevadans sincerely hope will be the next Governor of the Silver State.

Brian is a devoted public servant who gave up a lifetime Federal judgeship to pursue the Governor’s office. He will face Senator Harry Reid’s son, Rory, in the November election. While Nevada currently has a Republican governor, there can be no doubt that the Reid machine will work tirelessly to help Brian’s opponent. Although Brian is presently holding a strong lead, with 44% of Nevada registered Democrat, it will be a tough fight. One Reid is bad enough.

On August 25th, Diane and I, together with Paul Singer, Anthony Scaramucci, Gail Jaquish and Steve Kenninger, will host a reception for Brian Sandoval from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the St. Regis Hotel. If you are in New York we would be very grateful if you would come and support Brian’s effort to keep the Carson City governor’s mansion in the right hands.

For some of you receiving this, you will shortly be receiving a refund check of campaign funds you provided to me that I, regrettably, didn’t get to deploy in the general election. I hope you’ll think hard about re-deploying that check to Brian. Attached to this email are the invitation and the necessary donation form and information about the event.

America needs more leaders like Brian and we know you would enjoy meeting him in person.

We hope to see you there.

Diane and John Chachas

Tags: , ,
Posted in E!!Politics | 2 Comments »

Lawmakers Support Expansion of Nevada Legislature As Part Of Redistricting In 2011

By Sean Whaley | 4:15 pm July 21st, 2010

CARSON CITY – Several Nevada lawmakers serving on a panel gearing up for the critical task of redrawing the state’s political boundaries in 2011 said today they support expanding the size of the Legislature to provide better representation.

Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said the Legislature should have added more seats to the Senate and Assembly in the 2001 redistricting process. Because Southern Nevada’s population has boomed for most of the decade, more legislative seats will move south from rural and northern Nevada unless more seats are added, he said.

This makes it almost impossible for some lawmakers to properly represent their districts, both because of the overall population growth and because some rural districts are geographically immense, Raggio said.

“They are not really manageable,” he said. “So you need to increase the size so that you don’t have districts with geographical areas that are just impossible or impractical for one person to represent.”

The Nevada Legislature has 21 state senators and 42 members in the Assembly for a total of 63 lawmakers. The state constitution limits the size of the Legislature to a maximum of 75.

Currently 14 of 21 senators are from Clark County. Twenty-nine of the 42 members of the Assembly are from Clark County.

Raggio said he believes the Legislature should consider expanding all the way to the full 75 allowed, with 25 members in the Senate and 50 members in the Assembly.

Raggio will be involved in the redistricting process but he won’t be crafting a Senate district for himself. The 2011 session will be his last.

Assemblyman Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, and Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, said they too support an expansion of the Legislature when interviewed after the meeting of the Legislative Commission’s Committee to Study Requirements for Reapportionment and Redistricting.

Goicoechea said at least two Assembly seats and one Senate seat need to be added in the 2011 legislative session. The Assembly Republican Caucus will push for that, he said.

Goicoechea said he would also like to see districts more closely mirror county lines where possible. Several rural Nevada counties have multiple legislative representatives right now, he said.

Smith said she believes more seats are needed to ensure adequate representation outside of Clark County. In the 2001 redistricting process, two Assembly seats and one Senate seat went south from Washoe County to compensate for the population growth. Smith saw her own district carved up as part of that process.

Smith lost re-election in 2002 following the redistricting by the 2001 Legislature. She was re-elected in 2004 and has served ever since.

Smith said the cost of an expansion would not be that great because the legislative building can accommodate more members.

Smith said she is not certain yet on how much of an expansion would be appropriate.

Redistricting occurs one every 10 years following the census count.

The Legislature must redraw their own districts to make them approximately equal in size. They will also redraw the state’s congressional boundaries. Given Nevada’s population growth since the last census, the state will likely expand to four seats in the House of Representatives from the current three seats.

___

Audio:

Sen. Bill Raggio on need to expand size of Legislature:

072110Raggio1 :23 not very representative.”

Raggio on some districts being too large to represent:

072110Raggio2 :26 person to represent.”

Assemblywoman Debbie Smith on concerns about representation:

072110Smith :8 means to representation.”

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in News | 1 Comment »

State Agency Overtime Costs Decline But Remain Drain On Nevada Budget

By Sean Whaley | 6:42 am July 21st, 2010

CARSON CITY – Nevada state agencies and their employees appear to have gotten the message about the budget crisis, at least as far as the accumulation of overtime is concerned.

A report presented to the Board of Examiners last week on the use of overtime and comp time by state agencies shows a 33 percent reduction in the period January through March compared to the previous quarter. The reduction is equal to about $2 million less in overtime costs.

For the first nine months of the 2010 fiscal year, from July 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010, overtime and comp time is down nearly $9 million compared to the same three quarters in the prior fiscal year, a 33.7 percent reduction.

Overtime remains a significant factor for most state agencies, however. The January to March quarter saw $4.1 million in overtime and comp time. For the first nine months of the 2010 fiscal year, overtime and comp time totaled $17.7 million and equaled 2.3 percent of base pay.

Even so, every major state agency reported a drop in overtime in the first nine months of fiscal year 2010 compared to the prior year.

Assembly Minority Leader Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, said the numbers are encouraging. But the elimination of state positions and the reductions in overtime are being reflected in a reduction in service levels, he said. Lines at Department of Motor Vehicle offices are getting longer, but Nevadans are probably going to have to get used to reduced services, at least for the short term, Goicoechea said.

“I think it is a trend,” he said. “It’s something we’re going to have to accept in these economic times we’re in. If you cut the people out, cut the overtime out, it will cut services.”

Some smaller agencies showed overtime increases. The Secretary of State’s office, for example, saw overtime jump by nearly 165 percent in the first three quarters of fiscal year 2010, compared to fiscal year 2009. The amount of overtime totaled just under $68,000. The agency reported a decline in overtime in the third quarter from the second of 27 percent.

The agency ranked 11th overall on overtime as a share of base pay at 1.9 percent.

Pam duPré, public information officer for the secretary of state’s office, said the overtime was made necessary when the office took over the responsibility of issuing business licenses on Oct. 1 with no new staff. More than 35,000 licenses were issued in the fourth quarter, she said.

The new responsibility came at the same time as mandatory furloughs and staff reductions, duPré said. The office won approval from the Legislature to reinstate a few positions to help with the new responsibility, which generates revenue to the state, she said.

Secretary of State Ross Miller authorized the use of overtime to ensure customers received an appropriate level of service, duPré said.

“If we can’t serve our business clients, whether they are seeking a new business license or an annual renewal, they might look to incorporate, and do business and pay their fees in another state,” she said.

The overtime will continue to decline, duPré said.

The Department of Transportation ranked first in the amount of overtime and comp time as a percentage of base pay at 6.3 percent. The agency also ranked first in dollars spent on overtime and comp time, totaling $3.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2010.

The agency has reduced overtime in the first nine months of the 2010 fiscal year, however, by nearly 30 percent compared to fiscal year 2009. The agency does not depend on the general fund for support.

The Department of Corrections reduced its overtime significantly over the previous fiscal year, cutting costs by nearly 50 percent. That could change however, as the agency implemented furloughs for correctional officers starting July 1.

Agency Director Howard Skolnik said overtime costs appear to be increasing since the mandatory one-day-a-month furloughs have been instituted for employees. Skolnik he will ask the Board of Examiners in August to approve an exemption to the furlough requirement for correctional officers, which would be expected to reduce overtime costs.

The department is also filling a number of vacant positions that will help reduce the need for overtime, he said.

The 2009 Legislature imposed the furloughs beginning July 1, 2009 for most state agencies as a way of saving personnel costs to help balance the budget.

___

Audio clips:

SOS Spokeswoman Pam duPré on reason for overtime:

072010DuPre1 :20 business clients needed.”

Pam duPré on need to provide good service to business community:

072010DuPre2 :13 in another state.”

Corrections Director Howard Skolnik on plans to fill vacant positions:

072010Skolnik1 :24 don’t need overtime.”

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

Nevada Tops List On Federal Lobbyist Spending, Near Bottom On Returns

By Sean Whaley | 7:15 am July 20th, 2010

CARSON CITY – A dozen Nevada government entities spent more than $1.7 million taxpayer dollars last year to hire lobbyists in Washington, DC and have racked up nearly $400,000 in expenses in the first quarter of this year, according to data gathered by the national group Center for Responsive Politics.

The state of Nevada has spent $110,000 so far this year, placing the state 7th among all 900 government entities included in the report, which is found on the group’s website opensecrets.org. Nevada ranks 2nd among states for spending on lobbyists in Washington, DC.

Nevada spent $435,000 last year and ranked No. 2 among the states for such spending behind Pennsylvania. Funding for Nevada’s lobbying effort comes from the general fund, room taxes and other sources.

Nevada’s lobbying effort includes its Washington Office with $280,000 in spending, and $155,000 by the state Department of Transportation, according to the group’s website.

While the state leads in spending, many other Nevada government entities also pay for Washington, DC lobbyists, including Nye County, which spent $200,000 in 2009 and $50,000 so far this year. Nye County has only 46,000 residents.

The City of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Reno, Sparks and Carson City also spend money on DC lobbyists, as do Washoe and Clark counties and some other entities.

Nevada, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Nye County and the City of Las Vegas were in the top 100 on federal lobbyist spending in 2009. Henderson, Nye County and North Las Vegas each spent $200,000, according to the report. Las Vegas spent $165,000.

Dave Levinthal, communications director for the center, said it is difficult to track whether the investment in lobbyists brings a return to the government entities. For some it may pay off, but for others it would probably be better to spend the money on paving a street or hiring a police officer, he said.

The organization takes no position on the spending; only reporting the data on a quarterly basis.

There are two schools of thought on the spending, Levinthal said. One is that governments have to be aggressive in the competition for federal funds. The other is that spending local taxpayer money to get federal taxpayer money is inappropriate, he said.

“There is absolutely no guarantee,” Levinthal said. “This is a gamble any way you cut it.”

The first quarter spending suggests the local government entities are on a pace to spend more this year than in any previous year, he said.

Last year state and local government entities spent over $83 million on Washington lobbyists.

Nye County Manager Richard Osborne said the spending by the county on a Washington lobbyist is primarily directed at Yucca Mountain and the desire by the county to see the nuclear waste repository project go forward.

The county gets about $12 million a year now in funding connected to the project, very close to 10 percent of the entire annual budget, he said. The loss of the project, which now seems possible, would be a big financial hit to Nye County, Osborne said.

“We believe that Yucca Mountain is a viable option for storage of nuclear spent fuel,” he said.

The county’s lobbyist, the law firm Akerman Senterfitt, also helps the county with other projects and issues, he said.

Nevada’s Washington office is run by Ryan McGinness, son of state Sen. Mike McGinness, R-Fallon. In a report to the 2009 Legislature, which reviews the budget for the office every session, the firm, District Strategies, noted that it worked with Nevada’s Senate delegation to successfully oppose an amendment that would have cost the state $75 million in federal Medicaid revenue. The firm also assisted in bringing $40 million in additional funding for foreclosure mediation.

The office has come in for criticism by some members of the Nevada Legislature in past sessions, including the 2009 session. Democrat lawmakers have questioned the necessity of the office.

In 2005, Democrats on the Assembly Ways and Means Committee held up funding for the office because of a lack of a detailed budget. Ultimately the office was funded.

But other lawmakers have argued that given Nevada’s poor ranking on the receipt of federal revenues that the investment in the Washington office is worthwhile.

Nevada only gets about 65 cents in federal funds for each tax dollar sent to the federal government. New Mexico is at the other end of the scale getting more than $2 for each tax dollar sent to Washington.

___

audio clips:

Dave Levinthal says some may question the money spent by governments on federal lobbying efforts during tough economic times:

071910Levinthal1 :13 during these times.”

Levinthal says investing in lobbying is a gamble:

071910Levinthal2 :28 guarantee of success.”

Nye County Manager Richard Osborne says loss of Yucca funding would be a blow:

071910Osborne1 :10 in our revenue.”

Assemblyman James Settelmeyer says federal lobbying has pros, cons:

071910Settelmeyer :13 at all times.”

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

McMullen Elected New Washoe County GOP Chairman

By Nevada News Bureau Staff | 4:09 pm July 19th, 2010

CARSON CITY – The Washoe County Republican Party has elected Ralph McMullen as its new chairman.

McMullen was elected to the position by the Washoe County Republican Central Committee (WCRCC) during its regular meeting July 16. McMullen currently serves as the parliamentarian for both the Nevada State Republican Party and the Washoe County Republican Party.

McMullen has also served previously as the vice chairman of Elko County Republican Party and executive director of the Elko County Convention and Visitors Bureau. McMullen has extensive experience as a leader of the Republican Party, having served as president of eight different Republican organizations.  He previously founded the Sparks Young Republicans and was president and national committeeman of the Nevada Young Republican Federation.

“I am humbled by the trust placed (in) me by the Republicans in Washoe County,” McMullen said. “It is truly an honor to have the opportunity to lead the county party through the most critical midterm election in recent memory.”

McMullen takes the reins of the county party as current county records show the GOP gaining an edge in voter registration, which it had ceded to the Democrats in 2008 elections.

“We are now a Republican county again,” McMullen said.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

Nevada’s Unemployment Rate Hits Another Record High In June Reaching 14.2 Percent

By Nevada News Bureau Staff | 3:48 pm July 19th, 2010

CARSON CITY – Nevada’s unemployment rate hit another record high in June, reaching 14.2 percent as 193,000 residents looked for work, a state agency reported today.

The rate in Las Vegas hit 14.5 percent, up four-tenths of a percentage point from May.

The June statewide jobless rate was an increase of two-tenths of a percentage point from May, which was the previous record at 14 percent, according to the monthly report from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

At the national level, the unemployment rate declined from 9.7 percent to 9.5 percent.

“This is a good sign, since a national economic rebound is a prerequisite for improvement in Nevada,” the report said. “But with stimulus dollars running short and private employers thus far sitting on the sidelines, expectations for near-term economic growth have diminished somewhat of late.”

Statewide, total employment decreased by 1,400, even though private sector employers added 3,400 jobs. Seasonal declines in state and local government offset improvement in the private sector.

Employers in the trade, transportation and utilities industry, which include wholesale and retail trade, added 2,000 jobs. The previous month’s unusual job contraction in the education and health services sector reversed itself in June with an over-the-month employment increase of 2,100. Preliminary data in the construction industry brought an unanticipated loss of 2,400 jobs as many participants in the survey indicated the end of specific projects as the reason for the lower employment numbers.

State and local government employers shed 4,800 jobs, but most were seasonal, tied to the end of the school year. The temporary census hiring which fueled the previous increases in federal government employment has ended, and the positions will cease to exist in the next couple of months.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in News | 1 Comment »

Nevada Law Enforcement Agencies To Install New Vehicle Technology To Save Money – Cut Air Pollution

By Nevada News Bureau Staff | 2:48 pm July 16th, 2010

CARSON CITY – New technology aimed both at cutting unnecessary vehicle emissions and saving tax dollars will soon be installed in the fleets of four Nevada law enforcement agencies using federal stimulus funds.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Nevada Highway Patrol, the City of Henderson Police Department and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office are purchasing 175 of the “idle reduction” units for $700,000.

The units, made by the Austin, TX-based company Energy Xtreme, can power a typical police vehicle’s entire electrical system – including the lights, radio, laptop and camera – for a minimum of four hours at a time with the engine turned off.

The Law Enforcement Series made by the company eliminates the need for officers to idle their engines for lengthy periods of time. Constantly running a vehicle’s gasoline engine pollutes the air, wastes gasoline and can create a tempting target for criminals looking for a joy ride.

The unit installs easily in the trunk of a police cruiser where it uses minimal space and automatically recharges while the car is being driven. It can also provide engine ignition power in case of a dead battery.

“Our Independence Package product line will not only allow the state of Nevada to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and reduce costs, but it will also increase the functionality of state vehicles,” said Devin Scott, CEO of Energy Xtreme.

The company reports that other law enforcement agencies across the country are using the system for up to five hours per day with cost savings of more than $3,000 annually per vehicle. Fleets using the Law Enforcement Series are also eliminating more than 30,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per vehicle per year.

“Striving to incorporate leading-edge developments while protecting our communities and the environment is necessary,” said Washoe County Sheriff Mike Haley. “This is a fundamental way that we in law enforcement can save resources and improve the quality of life for our residents.”

The Nevada law enforcement agencies are purchasing the product with an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy to the Nevada State Office of Energy. Over $2.7 billion in grants are available to U.S. states, territories, local governments and Indian tribes under the EECBG Program, which is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in News | 1 Comment »

Team Reid Waiting for Sharron Angle to Commit to Debates

By Elizabeth Crum | 3:52 pm July 15th, 2010

Yesterday Team Reid campaign announced its plans to participate in two statewide non-partisan debates with opponent Sharron Angle, assuming she agrees to them.

The first debate will be sponsored by Sunbelt Communications and the Las Vegas Sun and will air statewide on KRNV, KSNV, and KENV on October 19, 2010. The debate will happen in Reno and will include a panel of three Nevada journalists including Ralston, Anjeanette Damon, and a third journalist to be named later.

(Um… I checked my calendar and do happen to be free that evening, just in case anyone was wondering.)

The second debate will be hosted by the Nevada Broadcasters Association Foundation in Las Vegas sometime in October and will be moderated by Mitch Fox, producer and host of Nevada Week in Review.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in E!!Politics | 4 Comments »

Improved Service From State Agencies Anticipated With New One-Stop Business Portal

By Sean Whaley | 3:14 pm July 15th, 2010

CARSON CITY – Companies seeking to establish themselves in Nevada should soon find a more business-like process in place to file paperwork and pay fees to the state to get up and running.

By early next year, a “business portal” unique to Nevada is expected to be operating through the Secretary of State’s office. The portal ultimately is expected to give businesses an online process to provide information required from a number of different state agencies all at one time. All required forms and fees will be accommodated through this one-stop online shop.

Upon completion of this first phase, businesses will be able to apply for and receive their sales and use tax permits, receive and renew their annual state business licenses, file articles of incorporation, file annual lists of officers and conduct other important business all in one online visit and with one online payment.

Secretary of State Ross Miller said the business portal is moving forward with the approval Tuesday by the Board of Examiners of a $4.5 million contract with Capgemini Government Solutions to implement the required technology.

“It’s a game changer,” he said. “We are far ahead of the curve of what any other state has been able to do.”

Company representatives and state agency officials met today to get the project going.

Jose Garcia, vice president of Capgemini, said he has staff in Nevada now and is moving forward with the work. The first phase will link the secretary of state’s office and the Department of Taxation. The project is ambitious but involves the type of work the company has done in other states, he said.

“We’re using the standard industry technology,” Garcia said. “I’m not saying it’s easy. It will be a challenge in that we have a tight timeline to be successful.”

Future phases are expected to link to other state agencies, such as the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, as well as local government business licensing entities. Agencies must already offer online services to link to the portal.

Dino DiCianno, executive director of the Department of Taxation, said the portal will allow the agency to use its current on-line programs and services, but will make it easier for the business community to access the information.

“The bottom line is we have to be more efficient,” he said.

Miller said that the portal will not only simplify the licensing and registration processes for the business community, it will also generate more revenue to the state by capturing fees that have not consistently been collected in the past.

A third benefit will be a reduction in the amount of state staff time and resources now required to process the information, Miller said.

The state has already seen a financial benefit with the integration of some of the functions of the Department of Taxation and the Secretary of State’s office, Miller said. Since that integration on Oct. 1, 2009, the state has collected significant amounts of previously un-captured tax revenue, he said. His office was given the task of issuing state business licenses and collecting the fees.

The first phase of the portal is expected to be operational by March of 2011. It will put Nevada “light years” ahead of other states in providing the business community with an easy-to-use process, Miller said.

No longer will someone wanting to set up a business have to visit different state agencies, fill out different forms and pay each time with separate transactions, he said.

It will also simplify the renewal process for existing businesses, Miller said.

The 2009 Legislature authorized the creation of the business portal.

___

audio clips:

Ross Miller says Nevada ahead of other states with the portal project:

071510Miller1 :20 of state agencies.”

Miller says portal will benefit the business community:

071510Miller2 :15 premier business jurisdiction.”

Capgemini Vice President Jose Garcia says the project is challenging:

071510Garcia :34 on the ground.”

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

Angle Reports $2.3 Million Raised 5/20 to 6/30, $1.7 Million Cash On Hand

By Elizabeth Crum | 2:28 pm July 15th, 2010

Numbers from the Angle campaign a few minutes ago (and as first Flashed by Ralston):

Total Contributions Election Cycle-To-Date = $3,545,132.86

- Total Contributions 2nd Quarter Report (dates 5/20 – 6/30) = $2,290,936.53

- Total Contributions this Report from Individuals = $2,222,186.53

- Total Contributions this Report from PACs = $68,750.00

- Total Disbursements/Expenditures this Report = $656,773.25

- Debts & Obligations = $0

- COH at Beginning of Period = $132,016.59

- COH as of 6/30/2010 = $1,767,671.91

Reid raised about the same amount in the same period, but he has a whopping $9 million COH.  He’s raised about $19 million so far this cycle and will probably raise at least $25 million by time this is all said, done and won.

And:  Does anyone doubt that a couple of Reid’s many millions has already been flagged for a huge ad buy in September and October?

Not me.

Great year to be a Nevada media group with ads to sell.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in E!!Politics | 2 Comments »

Nevada Transparency Website Still Missing Contract Information, Searchable Functions

By Sean Whaley | 9:42 am July 15th, 2010

CARSON CITY – Nevada’s transparency website, where taxpayers can go to examine details of spending by state agencies, still does not include a critical component that would make the information more useful.

Budget limitations have put a plan to put contract information on the site in a searchable format on hold, said state Budget Director Andrew Clinger.

In the meantime, contracts approved by the Board of Examiners at each meeting are being posted on the Department of Administration’s website, he said. Because the information is in a PDF format however, it is not searchable, Clinger said.

But the information, which now includes descriptions of the contracts, the source of funding for the contract, and whether it is a sole source contract, is available for review, he said.

“Without additional funding at this point I’m not sure when we will be able to have the contracts posted in a fashion that is searchable and those types of things that make it even more transparent,” Clinger said. “It is still on our list of priorities. It just depends on the funding in the next session.”

The contracts approved by the Board of Examiners are also posted by the Nevada Policy Research Institute at its TransparentNevada website. The contracts are searchable by contractor, state agency or description going back to January of this year.

Gibbons issued a proclamation in March of 2008 requiring the creation of a transparency website “as soon as practicable.”

Called the Nevada Open Government Initiative, the proclamation specified the need for an “easily searchable database of financial transactions related to government budgets and expenditures . . .”

The site is up and operating and includes a searchable database where taxpayers can delve into detail showing actual payments to vendors.  Searches can be performed by vendor name or by agency.

It has been criticized in the past by some for not being complete.

In a study grading the states on their transparency efforts on government spending released by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group in April, Nevada received a C and is listed as one of 25 “emerging states” with transparency websites that provide less comprehensive information.

Seven states: Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Texas, Missouri and Pennsylvania, received As and Bs.

But Nevada was not far behind, earning a 78 score out of 100 and coming in at 10th in the rankings.

Nevada is identified in the report as being one of 25 states with “checkbook-level transparency allowing viewing of individual government transactions, akin to viewing the government’s checkbook.”

Two areas where Nevada failed to score well were related to contracts. Nevada received five of 10 points for the posting of contract information, and zero of five points for the posting of past contracts. Nevada’s site was penalized because the actual contracts cannot be viewed.

Contract information is a failing for most state websites, according to the study.

“Most transparency websites do not provide enough detailed information on government contracts. Even some of the leading websites provide only a short description (two to three words) of the purpose of the contracts.”

Nevada’s contract information is inconsistent, with some descriptions lengthier than a few words and others briefer. But the information has not yet been posted or linked to the governor’s transparency website. Instead it is found on the Department of Administration’s website.

The difficulty in finding information was another failing of many sites according to the study.

“Transparency websites should be one-click searchable,” the study said. “Residents should be able to search data with a single query or browse common-sense categories. Websites should also let residents sort data on government spending by recipient, amount, legislative district, granting agency, purpose, or keyword.”

“The good news is that state governments have become far more transparent about where the money goes,” said Phineas Baxandall, senior analyst for tax and budget policy at U.S. PIRG and co-author of the report. “But even the leading states have a lot of room for improvement.”

___

audio clips:

Nevada Budget Director Andrew Clinger says some contract information is now available:

071410Clinger1 :26 on our website.”

Clinger says the Legislature will have to provide funding for a searchable contracts database:

071410Clinger2 :21 data they want.”

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in News | No Comments »

Political Face Off in Las Vegas: NetRoots Nation vs. RightOnline

By Elizabeth Crum | 1:55 pm July 14th, 2010

If you’re interested in (1) politics, online activism and new media and (2) taking a weekend trip to Las Vegas, it’s not too late to register for one (or both!) of the two biggest ‘net-inspired political conferences in the nation.

Fighting from the blue corner, the lefties of NetRoots Nation gather for the fifth time in as many years at the Rio Hotel & Casino from Thursday, July 22nd through Sunday the 25th.

In red, the conservative RightOnline is at the Venetian beginning Friday morning and concluding – if the blogger bashes of past years are any indication – sometime during the wee hours of Sunday morning.  (Yes, I know it’s shocking:  Conservative activists and bloggers drinking, snarking it up and (gasp) having fun!)

This fun annual face off was first conceived in 2008 when the conservative non-profit organization Americans for Prosperity (AFP) decided to sponsor and organize a conference opposite NetRoots in Austin, TX.  The effort was repeated last year in Pittsburgh, making this year’s Las Vegas events the third time the two conference have convened in the same city on the same weekend.

Last year’s RightOnline conference had less than half of the 2,000 attendees at NetRoots and featured fewer speakers, yet attendance grew significantly over the Austin kickoff and AFP – now with over one million members and 25 state chapters – hopes to do even better this year in Las Vegas.

Conference speakers on the NetRoots agenda include:  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Sen. Al Franken, Elizabeth Warren, Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Ed Schultz, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Sen. Ben Cardin, Rory Reid, Nevada Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, Rep. Alan Grayson, Rep. Raul Grijalva, Rep. Jared Polis, Rep. Donna Edwards, Van Jones, Markos Moulitsas, Tarryl Clark, Bill Halter, George Goehl, Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins and Deepak Bhargava.

(That’s right:  Harry and Rory Reid are both going to be in Las Vegas next weekend, speaking at the same event. Although:  Rory will be speaking Friday at 3:00 as part of a DGA panel on governors’ races, while Reid the Senior is speaking on Saturday at 3:15.  I am sure their appearances on separate days, as with all prior “gosh, I guess we’ll miss one another again” occurrences, is sheer coincidence.)

Speakers at RightOnline include:  Judge Andrew Napolitano, Congressman Mike Pence, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell, David Jaget, Erick Erickson of RedState.com, John Fund of the Wall Street Journal, Ed Morrissey of HotAir.com, Jim Pinkerton, comic and Fox News Contributor (and my dear friend) Stephen Kruiser, plus talk radio hosts Herman Cain, Guy Benson, Curtis Sliwa and Roger Hedgecock.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in E!!Politics | No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »