Tag: Nevada

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NV Gov. signs two more LGBT friendly bills into law

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, a Republican, signed into law bills prohibiting discrimination in housing (SB368) and public accommodations (SB331) on the basis of gender identity or expression.

SB368 prohibits discrimination in housing and certain other transactions involving real property on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

SB331 relates to public accommodations, revising provisions relating to unlawful discrimination based on sex and gender identity or expression in places of public accommodation.

Last week he signed AB211, a bill prohibiting discrimination in employment on the basis of gender identity or expression.

Taken together, the three new laws represent fairly comprehensive anti-discrimination protections for trans people in Nevada.

However, as housing, employment and public accommodations were each handled in separate bills, the outcome could have been less desirable.

The laws will go into effect on October 1.

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Sharron Angle NOT running for NV congressional seat

Sharron Angle, who lost in her recent bid for US Senate to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid by 5 points, has made a statement saying although she was the first to put her hat in the ring to run for Dean Heller’s recently open seat in Nevada, she will now NOT be running. Here’s her official statement:

“Current outcomes concerning the special election have made this election in Nevada an illegitimate process that disenfranchises the electorate. Clearly, no solution that the Supreme Court can make will correct the injury to free and open elections caused by ambiguous laws and subsequent lawsuits.

“I do not have any desire to participate in a process described by others as a “ballot royale” or a situation where the party central committees choose their nominees because it makes a mockery of the most important constitutional element in exercising freedom. Voter participation has been preempted in either case by disallowing primary elections, or in allowing a select group of people to make a decision who otherwise would not be allowed to vote in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District. The longer this drags out the more it will become a contest of bank accounts and negative campaigning based on personal attacks instead of the important issues that face Nevada and our country.”

“Although I do not intend to participate as a candidate in the special election, I am not ruling out a future run for office. Meanwhile, I will remain busy working as an advocate for the voters of Nevada and this great nation. I thank all my supporters for their dedication and encouragement. I will be making additional announcements soon detailing my plans.”

And the state of Nevada breathes a sigh of relief…

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Solar Energy Project moves forward in Nevada

Senator Harry Reid joined U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu Thursday to announce the Department of Energy’s conditional commitment for a loan guarantee for the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project in Tonopah.

This is one of the final steps needed to allow the project to break ground, which will create more than 600 jobs in construction and operations. In addition, more than 4,300 direct and indirect jobs in manufacturing, value-added services and transportation will be induced as a result of the project. Sponsored by SolarReserve, LLC, the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project will be the first of its kind in the United States and the tallest molten salt tower in the world.

“Today’s announcement is about one thing: creating good paying clean energy jobs right here in Nevada,” said Senator Reid.

“Innovative companies like SolarReserve are helping ensure that Nevada can lead the nation in clean energy production, putting people back to work and pushing America toward energy independence. They deserve all the public and private support we can muster. ”

“Nevada continues to be a leader when it comes to the generation of renewable energy, and this project will not only create hundreds of jobs in the state but will also bring additional clean energy to the region,” said Secretary Chu.

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NV legislature passes important anti-discrimination bills

(via HRC) Yesterday, members of the Nevada State Assembly took a final vote on AB 211, a bill codifying prohibitions against discrimination in employment on the basis of gender identity or expression. The bill had already passed in the State Senate. The bill now moves to the desk of Governor Brian Sandoval for his consideration.

If signed into law, Nevada would become the 14th U.S. state, along with the District of Columbia, to provide protections based on gender identity or expression.

“The Nevada legislature has rightly recognized that everyone should be treated equally in the workplace, and Governor Sandoval should sign this bipartisan measure into law,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Being free from discrimination based on gender identity or expression, judged solely on your merits and quality of work, is the most common-sense approach to employment policies.”

“Today is a great day for all residents of Nevada,” said Josh Miller, a member of the HRC Board of Directors from Nevada. “Providing employment protections based on gender identity or expression is a victory for civil rights, and we urge Gov. Sandoval to sign this legislation. The people of our state should be judged on the quality of work they do and not on who they are.”

In other Nevada news, the Senate has approved SB 331 and 368, bills that expand the state’s anti-discrimination laws in the areas of public accommodations and housing, respectively. SB 331 protects against discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, while SB 368 adds gender identity to Nevada’s housing anti-discrimination law.

Whoo-hoo Nevada!

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Nevada Senate approves two LGBT protection bills

From LGBTQnation.com: The Nevada Senate on Monday approved two bills that would prohibit discrimination against gays and transgender individuals in housing and public accommodations, but rejected a third bill that would have added gender identity and expression to Nevada’s hate crimes law.

Sen. David Parks (D-Las Vegas), sponsor of all three measures, said he wasn’t surprised the 10-11 vote went against the hate crimes bill, reported the Nevada Appeal.

Parks said the law already includes race, color, religion, national origin, disability and sexual orientation in the definition of hate crimes.

“Protecting our transgender citizens harms no one,” he said.

The other two measures, however, were approved: SB331 prohibits discrimination against gays and transsexuals in places of public accommodation including hotels, motels and restaurants, and SB368 prohibits discrimination in housing and other real property transactions.

Both measures now go to the Assembly for consideration.

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Sen. John Ensign of Nevada resigns

According to news reports today, Sen. John Ensign of Nevada has announced his resignation as US Senator for Nevada.

After a tempestuous scandal regarding an alleged scandal with his aide, possibly paying off his friend and husband of former aide, and ongoing ethics investigations, Sen. Ensign has decided to resign as of May 3.

In comments during his announcement, he said “he has not violated any laws or rules, but said he could no longer subject his family, friends and constituents to further investigations.”

In 2009, Ensign acknowledged that he had an extramarital affair with Cynthia Hampton, a former member of his campaign staff, and that he had helped her husband, Doug Hampton, a member of his congressional staff, obtain lobbying work with a Nevada company.

Rumors are Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval to appoint Rep. Dean Heller to finish out the term. This would give Heller, who has announced his intention to run for the Senate seat in 2012 an advantage as a sitting incumbent.

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Op-Ed piece in Las Vegas’ leading newspaper in support of marriage equality

Very surprising but supportive op-ed piece in today’s Las Vegas Review-Journal regarding whether or not Nevada is ready and should “jump in” on marriage equality, both as a matter of fairness and finance.

“Some who favor legalizing gay marriage in Nevada — including many libertarian-leaning conservatives — favor it for economic reasons. If Nevada were to become America’s super-fabulous gay marriage mecca, we’d benefit from the fees, the travel, the hotel stays and the parties.”

“It’s a natural extension of the city’s existing tolerance, too. If we’re liberal enough to let pretty much any straight couple get married while drunk, we’ve got to be liberal enough to let real-life gay couples who actually want to honor the institution of marriage do it here.”

It seems people are figuring out not only is it the right and fair thing to do, it makes money for the state and it’s citizens. Funny how money can move an issue.

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Nevada Sen. John Ensign announces retirement

Nevada Senator John Ensign announced today he will not run for re-election in the coming political cycle.

From the Washington Post: “There are consequences to sin,” Ensign declared at a news conference in Las Vegas. He said he did not want to put his family though an “exceptionally ugly” campaign.

“I thank Senator Ensign for his nearly two decades of public service,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (R-Texas) in a statement. “Next year’s Senate race in Nevada will now come down to a clear choice between two competing visions for our country.”

Ensign, was first elected to the Senate in 2000 after two terms in the House.

The retirement decision comes in the wake of an ongoing Senate ethics committee investigation into whether Ensign acted improperly in an extramarital affair with Cynthia Hampton, who worked for Ensign’s political committees and whose husband, Doug, was a top legislative staffer for Ensign.

In the spring of 2008, Ensign, trying to repair his marriage, dismissed both Hamptons from his payroll. His parents, casino magnates in Las Vegas, issued nearly $100,000 in checks to Doug and Cynthia Hampton and the Hampton children, what were officially termed as gifts.

In the months that ensued, Ensign allegedly helped Doug Hampton land a lobbying job back in Nevada and then also helped him sign clients and get them access to officials in Washington. This came during the “cooling-off” period for Hampton, when he was legally barred from lobbying Ensign.

In early 2009 Hampton became upset with the state of his employment and asked Ensign for more money, something that Ensign’s circle of advisers have privately called blackmail. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), once a close friend and former roommate of Ensign’s, tried to negotiate a settlement with Hampton and Ensign, believed to be worth several million dollars.

Republican strategists will probably consider this a good thing. Rep. Dean Heller, who had been preparing for a primary challenge to Ensign, will now almost certainly run, and the party establishment will do everything in its power to clear the primary for him.

Democrat Rep. Shelley Berkley has been the most obvious choice to possibly run for the Dems. Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller and state Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto could also make a run.

With New Mexico and Arizona also holding open seats in the next election, it looks like the hottest area of the country both figuratively and competitively will be the southwest.

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Trouble right here in Sin City…

A special counsel has been named to investigate Senator John Ensign of Nevada regarding payments made to his former mistress and her husband.

The timing of this preliminary stage doesn’t bode well for Ensign, who has said he plans on running for a third term. With this investigation starting now, it could well be in high gear just in time for election season 2012.

More from CNN here.