Nevada Business Magazine

The Decision Maker's Magazine

Nevada Policy Research Institute

Where’s the ‘Progressive’ Outrage over Government’s Failures?

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Fifty-four years ago this month, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced the beginning of what would turn out to be America’s longest running war: the “War on Poverty.” “This administration today, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in America,” boomed Johnson, basking in the applause the grand declaration guaranteed him during his State of the Union … [Read more...] about Where’s the ‘Progressive’ Outrage over Government’s Failures?

Political Contempt is Chilling Free Speech

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Americans still largely believe in the right to free speech — but they are simultaneously less likely to exercise it than they have been in the past. And it’s not hard to see why. According to a recent Cato survey on the topic, nearly three-fourths of Americans say that “political correctness” has significantly silenced political speech on important issues. A quick … [Read more...] about Political Contempt is Chilling Free Speech

Be Thankful for Our Ability to Fail

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The late Steve Jobs once explained that “A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them.” This is clearly the mentality of a successful entrepreneur. Part of this mindset is the ability to see the world, and the marketplace, with fresh eyes — to spot new ways of doing things and then exploit those opportunities while the rest of the world is … [Read more...] about Be Thankful for Our Ability to Fail

Taxpayers Already Said “No” Once Before

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Much like government entitlement programs, it seems there is nothing more permanent in this world than a newly-enacted tax. However, soon, Nevada taxpayers might have an opportunity to create an exception to this rule. The Commerce Tax — the state’s ill-advised tax on gross-receipts — might finally be brought before the voters. Currently, signatures are being gathered to … [Read more...] about Taxpayers Already Said “No” Once Before

Stop Calling Higher Taxes a ‘Reform’: Property Taxes in Nevada

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It’s not very often that a bad tax system actually benefits taxpayers — but that’s the case with Nevada’s property tax. Both policy experts and local governments have repeatedly called for reform to the state’s convoluted property tax structure — albeit for entirely different reasons. Many policy experts dislike the current system because it’s unnecessarily complex, and … [Read more...] about Stop Calling Higher Taxes a ‘Reform’: Property Taxes in Nevada

Right-to-Work: Improving the Value of Labor Unions in 28 States and Counting

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Union bosses often try to portray right-to-work laws — which allow workers to decline or opt out of union membership — as a direct attack on unionization itself, arguing that supporters of employee freedom secretly wish to see workers enslaved under a harsh and punitive employment system. The truth is, if right-to-work supporters were actually trying to destroy unions, … [Read more...] about Right-to-Work: Improving the Value of Labor Unions in 28 States and Counting

Special Interests Wanted ESAs Dead: More Than Sandoval Wanted the Program Funded

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Teacher unions care more about their share of tax revenue than they do about the quality education of children. More than anything else, that should be the takeaway from the 2017 legislative session — when opponents of educational choice called the Governor’s bluff on Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). Of course, the word “bluff” implies that, ultimately, Sandoval was not … [Read more...] about Special Interests Wanted ESAs Dead: More Than Sandoval Wanted the Program Funded

We Shouldn’t Have to Get Government Permission Slips to Earn a Living

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Music therapy, according to Nevada law, is “the clinical use of music interventions” within a therapeutic relationship — including dance, song writing, lyric discussions and even simply listening to music. Nevada law also states that, without the government’s express permission, practicing “music therapy” is a criminal offense. So too is giving professional interior … [Read more...] about We Shouldn’t Have to Get Government Permission Slips to Earn a Living

The “Green Energy” Lobby is About Cronyism —Not Polar Bears

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It comes as no surprise that the Nevada legislature is, yet again, going to try to micromanage the energy market through a variety of new renewable energy mandates and subsidies. Sadly, it is even less of a shock that opposition to these initiatives is scarce, to say the least. After all, the “green energy” movement has done a fantastic job portraying itself as the … [Read more...] about The “Green Energy” Lobby is About Cronyism —Not Polar Bears

Lawmakers Should Focus on Consequences of Minimum Wage Hikes – Not Mere Intentions

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It didn’t take the new Nevada legislature long before it started toying with the idea of raising the minimum wage. Introduced within the first week of Nevada’s 79th legislative session, SB106 would incrementally increase the minimum wage from the current $8.25 per hour to a grand total of $12 per hour. Another more aggressive proposal — AB175 — was introduced the following … [Read more...] about Lawmakers Should Focus on Consequences of Minimum Wage Hikes – Not Mere Intentions

Federal Land Is About Control, Not Conservation

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In the final months of his presidency, President Obama used his executive authority to place millions of acres of western lands “off limits” to development — and big-government environmentalists cheered the move. Certainly the protections put in place by declaring large swaths of western lands “protected” is a policy result that pleases the ecologically concerned — but … [Read more...] about Federal Land Is About Control, Not Conservation

Thanks to Capitalism, the Future Is Quickly Arriving

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The future is apparently upon us. It’s true that we don’t yet have flying cars, cities built on clouds or Back-to-the-Future-style hover boards. But we are on the verge of having self-driving cars. And we already have telephones with more computing power than the system that successfully landed men on the moon. And now, thanks to retail giant Amazon, we will soon have … [Read more...] about Thanks to Capitalism, the Future Is Quickly Arriving

Transferable Tax Credits

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Private hands in taxpayers’ pockets It might be illegal under the Nevada Constitution for the government to give any private business a direct “gift” or subsidy — but since when does the ruling class let little things like constitutional intentions get in their way? The purpose of the constitutional ban on giveaways and subsidies to private corporations makes sense. Such … [Read more...] about Transferable Tax Credits

The Elections Aren’t the End: They’re Just the Beginning

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For far too long now, Nevada has been increasing the regulatory and tax burden on businesses, while simultaneously giving special handouts to politically connected companies and industries. It’s an environment that is ripe for corruption, abuse and political shenanigans. It breeds “protectionist lobbying,” allowing politically connected companies to squeeze out small … [Read more...] about The Elections Aren’t the End: They’re Just the Beginning

The Immoral Crusade for More: Government Intervention Needs to Stop

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It seems that whenever someone attacks the core principles of free-market capitalism, they do so with a self-righteous attitude of moral supremacy. After all, the push for redistributing wealth, regulating businesses and expanding government always seems to be “for the greater good,” so it’s easy to see why big government advocates are so smitten with themselves. As such, … [Read more...] about The Immoral Crusade for More: Government Intervention Needs to Stop