(posted by Bob Bennett)
As the Nevada Legislature begins its 77th session, we are reminded of Mark Twain’s remark: “No man’s life, liberty or property is safe while the Legislature is in session.” It is definitely a body that requires watchful attention by everyone. To make this a little easier for those who need to work for a living, 
don’t have paid employees to keep tabs on their interests, or are just overwhelmed by the process – we will provide a few links – and a little commentary and opinion.
List of Bill Draft Requests – http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/77th2013/BDRList/page.cfm?showAll=1
Assembly Bills – https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/77th2013/Reports/HistListBills.cfm?DoctypeID=1
Senate Bills – http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/77th2013/Reports/HistListBills.cfm?DoctypeID=2
Bills by Topic – http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/77th2013/Reports/TablesAndIndex/2013_77-index.html
Share your opinion on bills – https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Opinions/77th2013/A/
“After each war there is a little less democracy to save.” Brooks Atkinson – (Once Around the Sun 1951)
Opinions below are mine alone, and based on a quick reading of a small portion of proposed legislation.
Generally, bills before the legislature fall into three broad categories:
Those which transfer power from individuals to corporations.
S.B. 87 –– http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/77th2013/Bills/SB/SB87.pdf
Allows companies to fire employees who on their own time use medical marijuana – or any substance the employer may disapprove of.
S.J.R. 2 – http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/77th2013/Bills/SJR/SJR2.pdf Abolishes the $1.00 an hour addition to the minimum wage for medium size businesses who do not provide health insurance.
Those which transfer power from the individual to government agencies.
S.B. 33 – – http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/77th2013/Bills/SB/SB33.pdf While attempting to regulate sexual conduct by those in prisons, jails, and certain residential facilities, the plain fact of the matter is that circumstances imposed on individuals require individuals to violate section 3 a) 4 – multiple times a day. Other provisions, such as making masturbation a felony also go way too far.
Those which transfer power from small businesses to government agencies.
S.B 96 http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/77th2013/Bills/SB/SB96.pdf
(BDR 53-579) Imposition of fines and penalties for misclassifying employee (intentionally or not) as independent contractor – As someone who has worked as both as an independent contractor and employee – in a gray area – certain advantages exist for each category – Although abuses do exist, most often after a small companies grows to mid –size and begin to squeeze the people doing the actual work; this bill transfers too much power to a government agency – taking power away from both the individual contractor and employer.
Almost always these are pieces of bad legislation which need to be opposed by the people, but the people are generally ignorant of them, the mainstream media – both left and right – being more interested in kissing up to the power players than the actual welfare of the people – or the planet.
On rare occasion bills may actually propose transferring power from a government agency to individuals or from corporations to individuals. There actually appears to be a few of these this session. Perhaps the year of the snake will help chase the monsters of bias, shallowness and ineptitude from the kiss-up media like The Nation magazine, the RJG, Fox news – and really the entire marketing controlled press. “You dine off the advertisers sizzle and not the meat of the steak.” J.B Priestly, New Statesman 10 Dec 1971
Removes need to inform employer prior to filing a complaint https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/77th2013/Bills/AB/AB12.pdf
Revises provisions governing the restoration of civil rights for ex-felons. (BDR 16-687) https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/77th2013/Bills/AB/AB301_76.pdf
Expands prohibition on employers taking certain actions to prohibit, punish or prevent employees from engaging in politics or becoming candidates for public office with certain exceptions. (BDR 53-63)
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/77th2013/Bills/AB/AB433_76.pdf
Nationally, there has been a great hullaballoo about guns,, violence, and gun control. Yet both the violence and the calls for restricted access to firearms is simply the result of natural law. The left’s continued failure to recognize that a great many people believe government has become oppressive – except of course on issues regarding women and gays, has been a major stumbling block preventing major reforms from happening. Perhaps the former cop from Los Angles who has killed three people as revenge for his being unfairly fired for reporting police abuse -and as of this writing is still on the lam, will bring about a turning point for the reactionary left.
“Government of the busy, by the bossy, for the bully.” Arthur Sheldon; (Capitalism 1990)
