Working + The Economy
Lithium: Hot or not?
When they embarked on political careers that would lead them both to the U.S. Senate, a pair of Nevada Democratic politicians – Harry Reid and Richard Bryan – were dubbed the “gold dust” twins. More than half a century later, the phrase “lithium carbonate twins” doesn’t have as cute a ring to it. But it’s […]
Nevada spent $15 million to help 350 people find jobs
Job development agencies in Nevada spent $44,769 per person — the highest of all 50 states and 20 times the national average — to provide career services to 350 newly unemployed workers in fiscal year 2022, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor. The effort cost taxpayers $15 million, about 40% of the […]
Biden unveils latest round of student loan cancellation to aid 153,000 borrowers
President Joe Biden expanded his push to eliminate student loan debt Wednesday, saying during a speech the initiative is part of a campaign promise to address the “broken” system. “While a college degree is still a ticket to a better life, that ticket is too expensive,” Biden said. “And too many Americans are still saddled […]
Starbucks workers union drive makes it to Reno
For the first time in Reno, workers at a Starbucks filed a petition this week with the National Labor Relations Board seeking to unionize, joining four other Southern Nevada locations that have sought to unionize in recent years. The Reno store, located on McCarran Boulevard and Lakeside Drive, was one of 21 stores across the […]
Having a child shouldn’t cause financial catastrophe
I had a baby in 2021 and quickly learned how parenting and child care expenses add up. My husband and I had saved up for months to afford my unpaid maternity leave — I kept working even after my water broke because we needed every penny. It was a dream come true to have a […]
Now, clearly, is no time to raise the gaming tax
“Our Las Vegas Strip Resorts and MGM China set new all-time records” in 2023, MGM Resorts International CEO Bill Hornbuckle gushed Tuesday in a statement announcing the corporation’s fourth quarter and full year earnings. MGM’s numbers are indeed pretty splashy. Net revenues for the fourth quarter of 2023 ($4.4 billion) were 22% higher than the […]
PUC: NV Energy customers, not shareholders, on the hook for employee bonuses
If Southern Nevadans expect better customer service from NV Energy, they’ll have to pay for it. That’s the message from Public Utilities Commissioner Randy Brown, who led the charge to have ratepayers, rather than shareholders, foot the bill for the utility’s employee bonuses. Brown, the only new member of the PUC appointed by Gov. Joe […]
Lombardo appointee doubles down on ratepayer-funded bonuses for NV Energy employees
The Nevada Public Utilities Commission is scheduled Tuesday to reconsider its decision in December to stick ratepayers with a $5.75 million bill for bonuses NV Energy paid its Southern Nevada employees last year. Commissioner Randy Brown, appointed by Gov. Joe Lombardo to the PUC in September last year, is standing firm on his order requiring […]
Congress is looking at expanding the child tax credit again. Who would benefit?
WASHINGTON — The bipartisan tax package passed by the U.S. House last month is not a done deal, but the proposal’s supporters say it could restore some poverty-reducing benefits that reached millions under the pandemic-era child tax credit expansion. A majority of low-income families who do not currently qualify for the full credit would see […]
The Super Bowl is the crowning achievement of Nevada economic policy. Unfortunately.
Although the economic impact of the Super Bowl is typically overstated, and the public cost typically understated or ignored, civic leaders in cities work hard to land a Super Bowl. It’s exciting. It gives the host city lots of friendly publicity. It’s fun. But in Las Vegas, hosting a Super Bowl isn’t just a one-off […]
Labor Secretary says gaps in work training ‘infrastructure’ contribute to labor shortage
Nevada had the highest job growth in the nation last year, and the highest unemployment rate, a paradox that can be attributed to inadequate “job infrastructure”, says Julie Su, the Acting Labor Secretary of the United States. “It’s not just about Nevada,” Su said in an interview with the Current. “It’s just like physical infrastructure. […]
Child care costs far outpace wages, but dependent care tax credit stuck at 2001 rate
The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly last week to assist low-income families through an expansion of the child tax credit and the bill now awaits approval in the Senate. But some organizations are also highlighting a separate tax credit for child and dependent care, which they say is not providing adequate assistance to families […]