On Wednesday, Nevada’s Republican governor reached out to the Democratic-dominated state Legislature, emphasizing the urgent need for a collaborative approach to tackle critical issues such as affordable housing and access to quality health care.
Governor Joe Lombardo, during his address in Carson City, outlined his strategy to push forward his agenda despite the opposition of the larger Democratic contingent.
“I urge you not to dismiss proposals outright; instead, join me in working together, engaging with my agency leaders, posing questions, providing your insights, offering alternative solutions, and putting aside partisan divides,” he stated. Lombardo acknowledged the pressing reality that inaction would only exacerbate the existing challenges.
Nevada’s legislature convenes biennially in odd-numbered years, with the next session scheduled to begin on February 3, 2025.
As part of his initiative to enhance health care access, Lombardo announced plans to reorganize the state’s Department of Health and Human Services. This restructuring will assign oversight of services such as Medicaid, mental health funding, and health insurance programs to a newly formed entity, the Nevada Health Authority, which he referred to as a “streamlined agency.” The focus will be on ensuring improved insurance options for state employees and Medicaid recipients.
Looking beyond state lines, Lombardo has expressed a desire to partner with President-elect Donald Trump to address affordable housing in Nevada, a state where over 80% of land is under federal control. He criticized the federal government for its hesitance to release land for housing, expressing confidence that Trump will assist in this effort.
The governor aims to build upon prior initiatives from 2023, which included expanding school choice, increasing teacher salaries, imposing tougher penalties for specific crimes, and diversifying the state’s economy, which heavily depends on tourism and casinos. He also noted that proposed pay raises for teachers would extend to charter schools, with a focus on making these salary increases a permanent part of the budget.
In reaction to Lombardo’s statements, the state’s Democratic Party issued a statement highlighting that he has had ample time to alleviate financial pressures on Nevadans. They remarked, “As rental prices and food insecurity continue to escalate throughout the state, Joe Lombardo has not presented any substantial plans to address these issues while obstructing and vetoing Democratic proposals that provided genuine solutions to these pressing concerns.”
During the 2023 legislative session, Lombardo, who previously served as the sheriff of Las Vegas, vetoed an unprecedented 75 bills. This included legislation aimed at enhancing tenant protections, reforming the eviction system, offering free lunches to K-12 students, and providing insurance subsidies for long-term substitute teachers.
A similar bipartisan discussion is occurring in Arizona, where Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs articulated a willingness to pursue compromises as she aims to advance her legislative priorities in the face of a GOP-controlled Legislature.
