Republicans warn Obama against more national monuments in Nevada

Fortified with a fourth member, Nevada Republicans in Congress are serving notice they will erect a firewall against any efforts by President Barack Obama to set aside national monument land in the state.

A bill prohibiting Obama from taking such action was introduced Thursday in the Senate by Sen. Dean Heller, and in the House by Rep. Mark Amodei, with co-sponsors Rep. Joe Heck and freshman Rep. Cresent Hardy.

Such legislation is not new nor is it limited to Nevada. Republicans have promoted similar bills covering many of the Western states over the past several sessions. The bills go nowhere but they give GOP members a chance to express suspicion of Obama and let the Department of Interior know they are watching closely.

“Currently, with a quick stroke of the pen, the executive branch can lock up millions of acres of public land without consulting the public or their representation in Congress,” Heller said. “This legislation ensures Congress and local officials are not bypassed by the executive branch when it comes to proposed national monuments in Nevada.”

The president has the authority under the 1906 Antiquities Act to create national monuments, protected areas which the law defines as “historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest.”

Republicans say the law is outdated and has been abused by presidents of both parties. Westerners particularly howled when President Bill Clinton in 1996 created the 1.8-million-acre Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument in southern Utah with only 24 hours advance notice to the governor and the congressional delegation of the Republican state.

But with lands bills notoriously difficult to pass through Congress, conservationists argue that presidential action might be the only way to protect precious landscapes.

Obama has designated eight monuments by proclamation. The most recent last fall was the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in Southern California. The most controversial was the May 2014 designation of 500,000 acres in the Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks region of southern New Mexico.

The new Nevada bill is short. It would “prohibit the further extension or establishment of national monuments in Nevada except by express authorization of Congress.”

It would prevent the Obama administration from adding to the 22,650-acre Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, newly created in Clark County by an act of Congress in December.

It also would block an executive designation for Gold Butte. The prized 350,000-acre chunk of Clark County between the Overton arm of Lake Mead and the Arizona border is sometimes called Nevada’s branch of the Grand Canyon.

— Steve Tetreault

FIORE GOES ON THE AIR

Conservative GOP Nevada Assemblywoman Michele Fiore, who is at odds with some of her more moderate Republican colleagues, has a new gig: radio host.

In an email to her supporters last week, Fiore said she is joining the lineup on Las Vegas KDWN 720 AM on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.

“We’re calling our show ‘Walk the Talk with Michele Fiore’ because that’s what I do,” she said.

Fiore’s first show Saturday was scheduled to include Don Turner of the Nevada Firearms Coalition and Nevadans for State Gun Rights with an update on a background check ballot initiative that will be considered by the Legislature this session.

Las Vegas Mayor Pro Tem Stavros Anthony also was expected to be a guest to discuss his recent announcement of his candidacy for Las Vegas mayor.

“We’re going to have a lot of fun on our radio show, and we’re going to talk about the important issues,” the Las Vegas lawmaker said. “If you can’t catch us on Saturdays, we will be posting our shows to www.VoteFiore.com.”

Fiore, who was ousted from her committee chair and leadership positions by Assembly Speaker-designate John Hambrick, R-Las Vegas, is part of a conservative group of Assembly Republicans who plan to oppose Gov. Brian Sandoval’s call for $1.1 billion in new and continuing taxes.

She called one element of Sandoval’s revenue plan, a business license fee based on gross receipts, the same as the teacher-backed margins tax that voters rejected in November.

Republicans have taken control of the Assembly for the first time since 1985 and now hold a 25-17 edge over Democrats.

— Sean Whaley

HELLER GETS ELECTION ROLE

When U.S. Sen. Dean Heller ran in November for chairman of the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, he got beat by Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi.

But it turns out the Nevadan will have a role at the National Republican Senatorial Committee after all. On Friday, he was named a vice chairmen, one of three GOP senators who will work alongside Wicker as the party tries to maintain its Senate majority through the 2016 elections.

The other vice chairs are freshmen Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Joni Ernst of Iowa.

“Senator Heller will help protect the new majority by working with the NRSC to recruit quality candidates and ensure they have the resources necessary to compete,” NRSC Communications Director Andrea Bozek said.

Heller was traveling Friday and was not available to talk about the post. He said in a statement his goal was to work with the committee staff “in all facets to retain a strong Republican majority.”

The Republican Senatorial Committee recruits Republicans to run for Senate and raises millions of dollars to back them with commercials. For 2016, Republicans are defending 24 seats. Democrats are trying to hold 10, although one belongs to their leader, Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada.

Even though he lost, Heller’s campaign for the Republican Senatorial Committee chairmanship turned into a good investment. Not only will he still have a voice in the party’s campaign activities, he also was given a seat on the prestigious Senate Finance Committee for his effort.

— Steve Tetreault

NORTH LAS VEGAS PICKS LOBBYISTS

Porter Gordon Silver will be going to bat for North Las Vegas at both the federal and state levels after the City Council approved two contracts at $120,000 each at a Jan. 21 meeting.

Former U.S. Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., was picked to handle federal affairs for the city.

Mayor John Lee’s Chief of Staff Ryann Juden told the City Council that the city is aiming to increase its presence at the federal level and hopes to fuse lobbying and grant-writing efforts and leverage “existing federal assets” such as the VA Medical Center and Nellis Air Force Base.

Other efforts included a new lands bill and the proposed Interstate 11.

As for state government, Juden said the city was able to cut costs by going with Sam McMullen and George Ross at Porter Gordon Silver.

They will cost the city $15,000 a month while the Legislature is in session and $7,500 during the interim.

In the past, the city has spent $30,000 a month to contract with three lobbying firms during the session and paid $8,000 a month to two firms during the interim.

Juden said the city is pursuing a more “offensive” legislative strategy, and the more proactive approach will result in more work for city lobbyists.

Priorities for North Las Vegas this session include trying to get the University of Nevada, Las Vegas medical school built in the city, strategy regarding city plans to develop Apex industrial park and changing the law governing home rule to give the city more power.

That both state and federal lobbyists ended up being chosen from the same firm was listed as an “unintended consequence” that will streamline lobbying efforts, according to Juden’s presentation.

— Bethany Barnes

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760. Follow @STetreaultDC on Twitter. Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900. Follow @seanw801 on Twitter. Contact Bethany Barnes at bbarnes@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861. Follow @betsbarnes on Twitter.