Nevada’s Republican governor on Wednesday reached out to the Democratic-controlled state Legislature, saying they need to come together to find solutions to urgent issues like affordable housing and access to proper health care. Ta.
Gov. Joe Lombardo’s speech in the state capital, Carson City, will set the tone for how the party plans to advance its policies despite its trailing position.
“Before some of you say no, I want you to work with me, work with the heads of my agencies, ask questions, speak your mind, offer alternatives, and put partisan politics aside. I think so,” he said. “The stubborn reality is that if we do nothing, these challenges will only become more difficult.”
The Nevada Legislature meets every other year, in odd-numbered years. The 2025 session begins on February 3rd.
Lombardo, who is up for re-election next year, announced Wednesday that he would reorganize the state Department of Health and Human Services, taking over responsibility for services such as Medicaid, mental health funding and health care, as part of his goal to strengthen access to health care. did. The insurance program was provided to a new agency, the Nevada Department of Health. He called it a “streamlined agency” focused on ensuring better insurance options for state employees and Medicaid enrollees.
Beyond Carson City, the first-term governor says he expects President-elect Donald Trump’s help to bring more affordable housing to Nevada, where more than 80% of the land is federally controlled. said. Lombardo directly blamed the “federal government’s reluctance to release land needed for housing” and said he had “great confidence” that Trump would help.
Lombardo also plans to build on previous efforts in 2023 to expand school choice, raise teacher pay and stiffen penalties for certain crimes, in a state that relies heavily on tourism and casinos. It aims to diversify the economy. Lombardo said teacher raises will also be extended to charter schools, adding that the budget aims to make those raises permanent.
The state Democratic Party said in a statement that Lombardo has more than two years to reduce costs for Nevadans.
“As rent costs and food insecurity rise across the state, Joe Lombardo is seeking to address these issues while directly blocking and vetoing Democratic bills that would provide serious solutions to these serious problems. It has not offered any serious plans to resolve it,” the statement said.
Lombardo, a former Las Vegas elected sheriff, vetoed a record 75 bills during the 2023 legislative session. The bills include adding protections for renters, reforming Nevada’s eviction summary system, providing free school lunches in K-12 schools, and providing insurance benefits for students. Long-term substitute teachers.
A similar move is taking place in Arizona, where Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs said Monday at the beginning of the session that she believes there is room for bipartisan compromise to advance her legislative goals in the Republican-controlled Legislature. He said there was.
