Ethics

As most of you who have followed the Nevada Campus Protection Act (SB231) this past legislative session know, the bill failed.  It failed because of politics, not because it wasn't passed.  It wasn't allowed to even be voted on in the Assembly Judiciary Committee; their chairman of that committee would have no part of that.  For one,  Democrats don't wan't to vote on any legislation relating to guns unless it means taking guns away from people.  They know what happens when their names get added to the NRA shit list.  What comes next is going to be a shock to them.  The NRA is no longer the sole voice of gun owners.  The internet has given birth to many  grass roots, second amendment preservationist groups, and we don't need the NRA's endorsement to pursue justice on our own behalf.

With that said, Assemblyman William C. Horne's ethics are being called into question.  On his legislative biography, as well as numerous other databases containing biographical information, he lists his affiliation to UNLV as an adjunct professor.  While he may not hold a permanent position at UNLV, it isn't to much of a stretch to say that because UNLV opposed SB231, that his private economic interest affected his decision to bring SB231 before his committee for a vote.  Nor would it be a stretch of the imagination to say that should he have done so,  his services would no longer be retained as an adjunct professor.

Rule 23 of the Assembly Standing Rules states that;

9. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 10, if a Legislator knows he has a conflict of interest pursuant to subsection 8, the Legislator shall make a general disclosure of the conflict of interest on the record in a meeting of a committee or on the floor of the Assembly, as applicable.  Such a disclosure must be entered:

(a)  If the Legislator makes the disclosure in a meeting of a committee, in the minutes for that meeting.

(b)  If the Legislator makes the disclosure on the floor of the Assembly, in the Journal.

I have no knowledge of Assemblyman Horne disclosing that a conflict of interests existed in this matter, but that doesn't mean it never was disclosed.  I am asking anyone with knowledge of such a disclosure to come forward with a reference to it.  Make no mistake,  there are many people looking for such a disclosure in public records in the legislature, but it's like finding a needle in a hay stack.  As you can see from the quoted rule above,  he only need disclose the conflict of interest once.  If he made a disclosure but did so in reference to another matter,  we have no place to look.  That is why I am asking you, the reader to come forward with this information if you have it.

It is my belief that there is enough information to suspect a conflict of interest and file a complaint with the Assembly Select Committee on Ethics.  to do so, you need the complaint form from the Chief Clerk of the Assembly.  Once completed, it must be mailed to:

Majority Leader Marcus Conklin
Chair, Assembly Select Committee on Ethics
c/o Office of the Assembly Chief Clerk
Legislative Building Room 1109
401 South Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701

Hopefully,  we can generate enough complaints to warrant an investigation.  Just because the session is over doesn't mean we must give up.  SB231 had massive support of the people, and to deny it due legislative process is a tragedy that must be corrected.  Assemblyman Horne acted outside the interests of the people he represents and he must be held to account for his actions.