Countdown to Tesla!

CARSON CITY — After hours of hearings, things are starting to move here in Carson City. There are even rumors that lawakers will wrap things up tonight.

In the last couple hours:

• The Senate — meeting as the committee of the whole — heard and passed Assembly Bill 1 and Assembly Bill 3. Both bills now go the Senate floor for final passage and delivery to the governor.

• The Assembly has only to act upon its Assembly Bill 2, which was amended. It must pass the Assembly and come to the Senate for a vote.

• The Senate amended Senate Bill 1, with language requiring that construction workers building the Tesla plant be offered health insurance by their employer. The amended version of will be reprinted and come to the Senate floor for final passage, which unfortunately means speeches. A plea by AFL-CIO chief Danny Thompson that Tesla be required to pay prevailing wage was apparently ignored.

• The Assembly must then hear and debate SB1, ask its questions, and hold a vote on final passage.

So, there’s plenty of work to do, and just about six hours until midnight, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done!

Oh, by the way, the Tesla package will sail through almost exactly as it was proposed by the governor and his Office of Economic Development.

UPDATE: The only surprising thing that has happened during this entire special session just happened: The state Senate passed SB1 — the big incentive package — unanimously, but without a single speech! I was preparing for some remarks from lawmakers, especially Democrats who had raised questions about the bill earlier in the day.

But perhaps sensing that speeches could unnecessarily prolong the proceedings — which has never stopped them in the past — or that they would acquit themselves no better than they had earlier, the bill passed in a silent chamber.

Now, on to the Assembly.