Lawmakers punt What will the new year What a year it’s been: A shutdown to bring for Mueller month-by-month look back new Congress and Trump? at 2018’s biggest stories PAGE 2 PAGE 5 PAGES 9-10 Volume 20, Issue 45 January 2-8, 2019 lasvegastribune.com “I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” — Voltaire Good-bye ’18 and good riddance By Thomas Mitchell den borne by citizens of the Silver January 5: It’s called voting State. … with your feet. Perhaps that explains why, ac- A remarkable number of well- cording to Internal Revenue Service heeled Americans are doing just data on taxpayer migration, from that, and it should serve as a warn- 2014 to 2015 about 10,500 Neva- ing to Nevada voters and candi- da taxpayers moved to California, dates as we enter an election year. while 17,700 California taxpayers Though Republican governors moved to Nevada. Even more tell- in recent years have shepherded ing is the fact that the Californians through the Legislature record-high fleeing to lower-taxed Nevada tax increases, Nevada still fares averaged $91,000 in gross adjust- fairly well in comparison to other ed income, while the Nevadans states when it comes to the tax bur- heading to California averaged only $47,400 in adjusted gross income. Things haven’t changed much. My Point February 2: Nevada Democrats have taken identity politics to a whole new level. They have not just of View lowered the bar, they have buried it. By Rolando Larraz Recently they held a press con- After three months of semi-re- ference to announce the state party’s tirement, with plenty of time to mascot for the 2018 election season think and reorganize my future, — Mitch McTurtle. Apparently I have made the decision that if Las Vegas Events, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, and Fireworks by Grucci brought without a hint of embarrassment “America’s Party 2019,” to Las Vegas at midnight on January 1, 2019 with a fireworks and entertainment state Democratic Party Chairman there are no serious, reliable and extravaganza to ring in the New Year in classic Las Vegas style. America’s Party encompassed both live William McCurdy unveiled the nonpolitical figures to run for the entertainment at the Fremont Street Experience and the much-anticipated fireworks show on the Las Vegas mascot. It was someone dressed city council seat soon to be vacat- Strip. The pyrotechnic display launched from seven rooftop locations, (from the south, heading north): MGM in a turtle costume and holding a ed by termed-out and useless city Grand; Aria; Planet Hollywood; Caesars Palace; Treasure Island; The Venetian; and the Stratosphere. (See Good-bye 2018, Page 8) councilwoman Lois Tarkanian, I will run for that seat. The city council has women, Blacks, Greeks, corrupt ex-military, A Federal sports betting but not even one Latino name on the entire board, so I may throw my hat in the ring. I guarantee that I will do every- bill usurps state powers thing possible to be a champion by defending everything the current By Thomas Mitchell imposing federal suzerainty over councilwoman has not fought for or Now, precisely where in the the eight states that currently allow defended, so I will do the opposite. U.S. Constitution is Congress given sports wagering. I’ve lived in Clark County for the power to “maintain a distinct “This bill is the first step toward the last sixty years and in Ward One Federal interest in the integrity ensuring that sports betting is done for one-third of those sixty years, and character of professional and right in the states that choose to and it is a reality that Ward One amateur sporting contests”? legalize it,” Hatch said in a press has always been the number one But this is what a bill introduced release announcing the introduction trouble-maker of the city council this past week by Republican Sen. of the bill. board — with the exception of the Orrin Hatch of Utah and Dem- “As a lifelong sports fan I trea- time Michael McDonald was the ocratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of sure the purity of the game, and councilman in that jurisdiction. New York — dubbed the Sports after Murphy v. NCAA, I knew Mayor and City Council posi- Wagering Market Integrity Act that Congress had an obligation tions are elected by registered vot- of 2018 — claim is grounds for (See Sports Betting Bill, Page 5) ers in the city of Las Vegas. These positions are four-year terms and those elected are limited to a total Obama building his own wall of three terms on the City Council. I have never belonged to any By Alexandra Cohen Las Vegas Tribune party because I believe that as a The so-called Trump Wall is journalist and as the owner of a becoming a hypocritical open eye two-media business, it would be for Democrats that have controlled unfair for me to register with any the nation for the last two hundred political party. years with the “do as I say, not as I Even when I was the publisher do” mentality of dictatorship. of the very first Spanish newspaper The more we learn about the in Las Vegas, I was never a member “Trump Wall,” the more we learned of any Latino organization, not about the lies and the hypocrisy of even the Circulo Cubano de Las the Democrats-Socialists that are Vegas (Cuban Circle of Las Vegas) doing nothing more than reminisc- founded, among others, by my late ing about the days when they used friend Agustin Menendez. to control the masses of this nation. How can I honestly write an arti- David Martin, a reporter for The cle pro or con about an organization Horn News, exposed in a unique if I am a member of that organiza- way what the Las Vegas Tribune tion? How can I be fair in my article has been exposing for the last two about another organization or party decades with the blessing of both if I belong to an opposition group? Democrats and Republicans. I also never believed that it is a Democrats, for being liars, The Obamas are building a 10-foot wall around their Washington D.C. mansion for their security. good idea for an advertising sales- cheaters, and double-crossers fight- President Trump says we need a “slightly larger version” to protect our nation’s citizens. man to double as a columnist or a (See Obama’s Wall, Page 3) Ironically Ivanka Trump lives in the same neighborhood and has NO walls. writer, which is very normal and common for weekly newspapers; Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi should but, in my opinion, it is unethical and borderline unfair. The salesman goes out and tries take responsibility for police officer’s death to sell advertising space to a busi- By Las Vegas Tribune Staff time and most likely will not be the known gang member. nia, about 280 miles southeast of ness, but the business owner says It may not be a surprise to any- last time — unless the wall is built. Kern County sheriff’s deputies, Newman, where Cpl. Ronil Singh no, so the salesman finds issues or one that an illegal immigrant was The suspect, arrested in another FBI agents, Homeland Security, was shot. damaging information about that arrested for the shooting death of a California city, was identified as and other law enforcement officials Two other men, Adrian Virgen, business and “doing his duty as a police officer in Newman, a small an immigrant that has entered the arrested Gustavo Perez Arriaga in 25, and Erik Razo Quiroz, 27, were reporter” or following his intuition California town. It is not the first United States illegally and was a a home in Bakersfield, Califor- (See Dems Responsible, Page 6) as a columnist/writer, he “expos- es” that business’s dirty practices. Would the good salesman have Seven ways for Nevada GOP to get their mojo back written that expose on that business By Chuck Muth do is run more women and minority candidates. if he was able to sell the advertising Part three of a series Not. space? In all fairness, considering OK, before we get to “Messaging” — #4 Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying DON’T his position as a salesman, most on my list of seven things Nevada Republicans run women and minority candidates and stick likely not. need to do to get their mojo back for the 2020 with nothing but white males. That would be Fodder for those of the corrupt campaign cycle — I need to further comment dumb. media does not even have to be on #3: The messengers. I’m just saying that’s not some kind of magic the truth; corrupt media people Now, conventional wisdom - propagated by elixir that will heal all that ails the GOP. And are made out of the same “special many high-priced consultants, liberal pundits shouldn’t be. material” as corrupt cops. If they and egghead political science professors - would Frankly, I don’t care if a candidate is a man (See My Point of View, Page 2) have you believe that all Republicans need to (See Republican Mojo, Page 4) Page 2 / LAS VEGAS TRIBUNE / January 2-8, 2019 Lawmakers punt shutdown to new Congress By Jordain Carney the day, all of this will end. We The Hill don’t know when, in negotiations. Congress is effectively kicking It’s not a question of who wins or the partial government shutdown loses.