The 83rd regular session of the Nevada Legislature is officially underway in Carson City, with lawmakers sworn in surrounded by friends and family, today.
Over the next 120 days, lawmakers will contend with issues ranging from improving educational outcomes for students, making housing more attainable, election reforms, and finding ways to improve healthcare, to name a few. They’re issues that Republican Governor Joe Lombardo touched on during his State of State in January in which he urged the Democratic majority to work with his office to pass bipartisan legislation.
“I am encouraged that there seems to be some commonality when it comes to larger issues for Nevada, but the devil gonna be in the details,” said Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D–Northwest Las Vegas).
Yet, even before the first bill is introduced, legislative priorities may take a backseat to upcoming budget negotiations. Ahead of his State of State Address, Gov. Lombardo submitted an executive budget calling for $12.7 billion in state spending over the next two years. However, current revenue projections show the state bringing in just $12.4 billion over the next biennium.
It’s become a sticking point for the Democratic lawmakers concerned they’ll be tasked with making the tough decisions on state finances.
“There is no way to magically make money appear if the governor is not putting forward a bill to increase revenue,” said Cannizzaro. “So that leaves you with two options when you have a budget that is presented where expenditures are far exceeding revenue, you either increase the revenue side of the column or you decrease the expenditure side of the column.”
The Governor’s Office of Finance has since resubmitted the proposed budget correcting what they say were errors. Lawmakers will review those changes in the coming days. However, Minority Leader Robin Titus (R—Wellington) believes concerns over the budget are overblown.
“Some of these agencies do have an incredible amount in my mind of waste,” said Titus. “So we need to look at that, but just want to reassure you, there is money there.”
The state’s budget picture is further complicated given the Trump Administration’s desire to dramatically reform federal spending which accounts for nearly a third of Nevada’s total revenue.
Titus applauds the president for his attempts to reign in the federal deficit.
“We need to be fiscally responsible in our own right, and we should not be dependent,” she said. There are a lot of things that happen, waste of federal funds that come back to the state. I'm supportive of some of the grants that we get, but again, holding people accountable where that taxpayer money comes from.”
Nevada Democrats, though, contend that any changes to federal funding will dramatically affect services for residents.
Guests: Nicole Cannizzaro, state senator (D-District 6); and Robin Titus, state senator (R-District 17)
