Preparing for a blue Carson City
Leading Democrats say they’ll focus on long term
CARSON CITY — The blue wave that crashed over Nevada last week did more than just flip party control of the Republican-held governorship and a U.S. Senate seat.
The victories, including that of Gov.-elect Steve Sisolak, mean Democrats will have control of both chambers of the state Legislature and the Governor’s Mansion for the first time in 28 years. The last time that happened was in 1991, when Gov. Bob Miller, longtime Assembly Speaker Joe Dini and state Sen. John “Jack” Vergiels led the way.
Republicans held both legislative chambers and the governorship in 2015. Now they find themselves on the other side of that power struggle.
But as lawmakers switch from campaigning to governing, the question is what Democrats will do with their newfound power. Will they push a more progressive agenda — or, as Republicans called it on the campaign trail, turning “Nevada into California” — or take a more restrained approach with eyes toward maintaining control for more than a single session?
LEGISLATURE
Executive Branch receives and exercises its constitutional permission to act in the interest of the people of theunitedstates.”
In appointing Whitaker, the Trump administration pointed to a section of the Vacancies Reform Act that states the president may temporarily appoint a senior official to a position that typically requires Senate confirmation, as long as the person has worked 90 days in the department.
But Grasso and Pariente argued that the attorney general’s position does not fall under that provision.
“The new acting Attorney General
has been appointed in violation of federal law and without prior confirmation by the United States Senate,” the filing states. “The idea that Mr. Whitaker being confirmed in 2004 to become the U.S. Attorney in Iowa allows him to serve as the attorney general today lacks merit.”
A Justice Department spokeswoman could not immediately be reached for comment regarding the Las Vegas lawyers’ motion, but later this week the department is expected to release an opinion on Whitaker’s appointment.
Contact David Ferrara at dferrara@ reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Follow @randompoker on Twitter.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.