Hello Friend,

I’m writing with disturbing news. TODAY, April 26th the Nevada Legislature is hearing bills sponsored by Governor Joe Lombardo to massively overhaul our state government to expand his own power and enrich himself and his friends in the process! 

Today we need your help to testify in opposition to these two bills and make sure the Legislature knows that everyday Nevadans DO NOT sign off on these sweeping changes to our state government and to public education. These bills aren’t ‘the Nevada Way’, they are ‘Joe’s Way’ and whether he likes it or not, he’s going to hear what we have to say! 

First, the Senate Government Affairs Committee is hearing SB431 at 3:30PM. This bill:

• Removes the salary cap for executive branch officials. 
• Removes the Nevada Legislature’s oversight into financial decisions during the interim between legislative sessions, meaning the legislature CAN’T respond in a fiscal crisis.
• Creates something called the ‘Nevada Way Account’ in the state budget that can accept private donor gifts of up to $100,000 and is managed solely by a committee that is chaired by the Governor himself. 

This bill is a massive government power-grab by Governor Lombardo, with the added bonus of giving he and his hand-picked cronies MORE power over how the state spends money. We need you to speak up in opposition, saying how SB431 means LESS transparency, LESS checks and balances on the governor, and MORE opportunities for corruption! Here’s how to help: 

• Create a free NELIS Account & submit a comment
• Use the messaging above to testify at the hearing in Carson City! 401 S Carson St, Room: 2149
• Or testify at the hearing in Las Vegas! 555 E. Washington Ave., Room: 4412
• Testify via phone, dial (888) 475-4499 on the date of the meeting. When prompted, provide Meeting ID 87841480886 and then press #.

Next, the Assembly Committee on Ways & Means is hearing AB400 at 6:00PM. Here’s another doozy: 

• AB400 adds another unelected position, Executive Director of the Office of School Choice, who specializes in pushing private school vouchers, managing an ‘open zoning’ program for students statewide, & serves at the pleasure of the Governor. 
• The bill boosts funding for private school vouchers, which directly siphons taxpayer funding from our educators and students public schools. It does this by .5% of the education budget for this next fiscal year, and increases each year thereafter. 
• This bill also eliminates Legislative oversight on the Commission on School Funding, giving that power solely to the Governor, and gives the Governor the power to direct ‘remedial actions’ at specific schools that he deems to be failing certain metrics, such as ‘parental satisfaction’. 

This bill, plain & simple, is an attack on public education - educators, parents, and students alike. We must oppose this latest effort to privatize our public schools and make sure the Governor is investing in giving pay raises and support to our educators in the classroom! Here’s what to do: 

• Create a free NELIS Account & submit a comment
• Use the messaging above to testify at the hearing in Carson City! 401 S Carson St, Room: 3137
• Or testify at the hearing in Las Vegas! 555 E. Washington Ave., Room: 4406
• Testify via phone, dial (888) 475-4499 on the date of the meeting. When prompted, provide Meeting ID 81478038922 and then press #.

I know there’s a great many bills being heard this session that we ask you to take action on. But with Governor Lombardo pushing this expansion of his own power so aggressively, we need to pull out all the stops to make sure these Bad Bills are stopped in their tracks. Please follow the instructions above to make your voice heard and tell Governor Joe Lombardo that we need to be following the Nevada Way, not Joe’s Way! 

In solidarity,