Steve Sisolak in 2018 NV Governor's race


On Gun Control: Expand state background checks without involving Feds

Question 1 was a long-stalled statewide expansion of gun background checks first approved by voters in 2016.The initiative subjects most private-party gun transactions to an FBI-administered vetting process, but the FBI said it was unwilling to carry out the additional checks and suggested the state take up the task.

Attorney General Laxalt cautioned against doing so and deemed the measure unenforceable unless or until the federal agency agreed to conduct the checks.

Republican Dan Schwartz said he would enforce the initiative, as did Democrat Steve Sisolak, who responded to Laxalt's remarks with a scathing campaign statement.

"That is exactly the attitude that prevents action from being taken," Sisolak said. "Relying on Donald Trump's Washington to do anything beneficial to the people of Nevada is a fool's errand, but the larger issue is that Nevadans expect their governors to roll up their sleeves and get things done. Nevada deserves better."

Source: Reno Gazette-Journal on 2018 Nevada gubernatorial race

On Gun Control: Outspoken gun control advocate since Las Vegas shooting

Sisolak, a longtime Clark County commissioner, has become an outspoken advocate for additional gun control measures in the months since 58 people were killed in a mass shooting at an outdoor concert venue on the Las Vegas Strip.

He's taken softer positions on the matter in the past, as his primary election opponent has been eager to point out.

Source: Reno Gazette-Journal on 2018 Nevada gubernatorial race

On Abortion: Fund Planned Parenthood; leave decision to women

Q: Abortion: Mostly ban or mostly legal?

Adam Laxalt (R): Has signed onto lawsuits to significantly limit. Said would "look into" repealing NV abortion rights law, though later reversed this statement.

Steve Sisolak (D): Legal. Reproductive decisions should be between a woman and her doctor.

Q: Allow Planned Parenthood to receive public funds for non-abortion health services?

Adam Laxalt (R): Unclear. Investigated Planned Parenthood to confirm it didn't do surgical abortions, but public funding is for federal government to decide.

Steve Sisolak (D): Yes. Ran ad saying that as a single father relied on Planned Parenthood to get his daughters health screenings and information.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Nevada Governor race Oct 9, 2018

On Civil Rights: Strong gay rights supporter

Q: Support gay marriage and related issues?

Adam Laxalt (R): In 2014 said would have defended Nevada gay marriage ban. Joined suit defending religious right of florist to not create arrangement for gay couple.

Steve Sisolak (D): Yes. Strong gay rights supporter, endorsed by major gay rights groups.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Nevada Governor race Oct 9, 2018

On Crime: Ease cash bail requirements to reduce incarceration

Q: Criminal Justice: Ease cash bail requirements to reduce incarceration?

Adam Laxalt (R): Unknown.

Steve Sisolak (D): Yes, though for more minor offences.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Nevada Governor race Oct 9, 2018

On Drugs: Fight federal intrusion into state marijuana industry

Q: Should marijuana be decriminalized at federal level?

Adam Laxalt (R): "An issue for our federal representatives to address." The only Attorney General in a state with legalization not to ask feds to ease related banking prohibitions.

Steve Sisolak (D): Would fight federal intrusion into state marijuana industry. Also, erase misdemeanor marijuana convictions and enforce current state rules to make NV "the gold standard in the cannabis industry."

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Nevada Governor race Oct 9, 2018

On Education: Don't divert funds from public schools to private schools

Q: Increase funding for K-12 education?

Adam Laxalt (R): Vows not to reduce funding; will look at budget on possible increase.

Steve Sisolak (D): Restore funding to at least pre-recession levels. Shift money from hotel tax and marijuana tax toward schools.

Q: Provide support to parents to send their children to private schools with public money?

Adam Laxalt (R): Yes. Supported voucher-style Education Savings Accounts. "We're not funding private schools; we're funding an education for our students."

Steve Sisolak (D): No. "Will always fight against the diversion of funding from public schools into private schools."

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Nevada Governor race Oct 9, 2018

On Energy & Oil: Climate change poses a direct threat to our communities

Q: Consider climate change a critical threat? Should government limit the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to combat climate change?

Adam Laxalt (R): No. Joined appeal of Obama Clean Power Plan. "Oppose efforts to impose or expand costly and burdensome mandates on energy providers, which only lead to higher prices that hurt Nevada's families."

Steve Sisolak (D): Yes. "Climate change is real and poses a direct threat to our environment and communities." Work as a state to uphold Paris Climate Agreement & Clean Power Plan.

Q: Support Question 6, the initiative requiring utilities to provide 50% of energy from renewables by 2030?

Adam Laxalt (R): No specific stand but opposes "costly and burdensome mandates on energy providers."

Steve Sisolak (D): Yes. "Want Nevada to lead the world in clean energy."

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Nevada Governor race Oct 9, 2018

On Families & Children: Require companies to provide paid sick time

Q: Labor Issues: What should companies be required to provide?

Adam Laxalt (R): Joined suit opposing Obama's stricter overtime rules. No position found on sick leave.

Steve Sisolak (D): Require companies with 25 or more employees to provide paid sick time, although challenged firefighters for abusing sick leave.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Nevada Governor race Oct 9, 2018

On Gun Control: Ban silencers, bump stocks, and assault weapons

Q: Support more restrictive Gun Control legislation? Restrict semi-automatic assault weapons?

Adam Laxalt (R): No. "Increasing restrictions on law-abiding citizens' access to firearms is not effective in reducing gun violence." Opposed expanded background checks, open to banning bump stocks. 100% NRA rating.

Steve Sisolak (D): Formerly opposed, now supports enforcing background checks, banning silencers, bump stocks, and assault weapons. NRA rating was 79% in 2012, now 7%.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Nevada Governor race Oct 9, 2018

On Health Care: Do everything we can to maintain healthcare coverage

Q: Support or Repeal ACA, aka ObamaCare? Accept Nevada's ACA's Medicaid expansion to subsidize low-income participants?

Adam Laxalt (R): Called ACA "the most flawed piece of major legislation America has ever endured." Will consider Medicaid work requirements. Wouldn't have expanded Medicaid but won't roll it back.

Steve Sisolak (D): Supports ACA and Medicaid expansion. Opposes Medicaid work requirements. "Need to do everything we can to make sure healthcare coverage is maintained."

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Nevada Governor race Oct 9, 2018

On Immigration: Workable pathway to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants

Q: Support DACA, allowing "Dreamers" who arrived illegally as children, then grew up in the US, to achieve legal status if meet certain conditions?

Adam Laxalt (R): Unclear. In 2015, joined lawsuit challenging expansion to cover parents of DACA kids, though didn't join anti-DACA suit.

Steve Sisolak (D): Yes. "Protect these young people who want nothing more than to be accepted by the only country they've ever known."

Q: Immigration: Support path to citizenship for America's 11 million illegal immigrants?

Adam Laxalt (R): No specific position. Hopes DC representatives "can compromise on solutions that secure our border and take all situations into account."

Steve Sisolak (D): Yes. "Create a workable pathway to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants."

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Nevada Governor race Oct 9, 2018

On Jobs: Raise minimum wage to $10, but $15 is too much

Q: Raise the NV minimum wage?

Adam Laxalt (R): No. "Will reduce employment opportunities for Nevadans and hurt workers by reducing hours, reducing benefits, and reducing on-the-job training."

Steve Sisolak (D): Yes. Increase to at least $10 an hour. Reluctant to move immediately to $15, because "it will put small businesses out of business."

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Nevada Governor race Oct 9, 2018

On Tax Reform: Supported commerce tax; supports property tax increase

Q: Position on state taxes, including commerce tax levy on businesses making $4 million or more a year.

Adam Laxalt (R): "Will be committed to not raising taxes on anybody." End the commerce tax.

Steve Sisolak (D): Commerce tax was "very brave step," so preserve it. Explore increasing property tax caps to pay for education.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Nevada Governor race Oct 9, 2018

On Technology: Preserve Net Neutrality (equal access to internet)

Q: Net Neutrality: Support requiring internet providers to provide equal access to all users?

Adam Laxalt (R): Unclear. Didn't join suit to preserve it.

Steve Sisolak (D): Yes. NV should join lawsuit to preserve.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Nevada Governor race Oct 9, 2018

On Welfare & Poverty: Expedited permitting for affordable housing

Q: How to address affordable housing crisis?

Adam Laxalt (R): Oppose spending state taxpayer dollars, but would make it easier for developers to build new housing.

Steve Sisolak (D): Adjust affordable housing incentives. Include density bonuses, fee reductions and expedited permitting process.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Nevada Governor race Oct 9, 2018

On Gun Control: I'll take on the NRA and I'll take on Donald Trump

[Steve Sisolak TV ad airing in Reno and Las Vegas]:

[Caption: Steve Sisolak, chairman, Clark County Commission]

[Steve Sisolak addressing camera]: I've taken on bullies my whole life. Never backed down. Never backed away. When you see somebody getting hurt, you have to stand up.

Donald Trump hurts Nevada families. He wants to take healthcare away from 200,000 Nevadans.

[Photo: Trump with CNN Headline: "Trump expected to end program protecting Dreamers"]: He wants to break up families by deporting the DREAMers.

[Photo: Protest march with banner, "Fight for DACA and immigrants"]: He cares more about the NRA than you.

[Photo: Mother with two children]: I'll take on the NRA; I'll take on big Pharma; and I'll take on Donald Trump.

[Photo: Steve sisolak at rally]: As Governor I'll stand up for Nevada and for Nevada families. [Caption: Steve Sisolak for governor.]

Source: OnTheIssues AdWatch on 2018 Nevada Gubernatorial race Mar 21, 2018

On Immigration: Double headline - Already Done

[Steve Sisolak TV ad airing in Reno and Las Vegas]:

[Caption: Steve Sisolak, chairman, Clark County Commission]

[Steve Sisolak addressing camera]: I've taken on bullies my whole life. Never backed down. Never backed away. When you see somebody getting hurt, you have to stand up.

Donald Trump hurts Nevada families. He wants to take healthcare away from 200,000 Nevadans.

[Photo: Trump with CNN Headline: "Trump expected to end program protecting Dreamers"]: He wants to break up families by deporting the DREAMers.

[Photo: Protest march with banner, "Fight for DACA and immigrants"]: He cares more about the NRA than you.

[Photo: Mother with two children]: I'll take on the NRA; I'll take on big Pharma; and I'll take on Donald Trump.

[Photo: Steve sisolak at rally]: As Governor I'll stand up for Nevada and for Nevada families. [Caption: Steve Sisolak for governor.]

Source: OnTheIssues AdWatch on 2018 Nevada Gubernatorial race Mar 21, 2018

On Immigration: Not a sanctuary county; we are in compliance with ICE

Confirming what local officials have claimed for months, the Department of Justice has found no evidence that Clark County is failing to comply with federal immigration authorities. "This validates what the sheriff and I have been saying the entire time--that everything we've done has been in compliance," County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak said. "I appreciate the fact that the DOJ has agreed with our interpretation."
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal on 2018 Nevada Gubernatorial race Aug 4, 2017

On Health Care: ObamaCare has helped those in need

The enactment of the ACA and Medicaid expansion reduced uncompensated care from 40 percent to 11 percent at University Medical Center. Sisolak said, "When you see (people) are going to lose their mom or son, you can't put a dollar value on that. I think we as a commission and decent human beings need to do everything we can to make sure health care coverage is maintained for everyone, especially our most vulnerable population."
Source: Las Vegas Sun on 2018 Nevada Gubernatorial race Jul 31, 2017

On Drugs: Nevada should set gold standard for legal pot

A weed control board could oversee regulations and the fines and fees associated with breaking them within the county. Sisolak agreed with the idea of a board to help with disciplinary issues. Has dissatisfaction with what he sees as "slaps on the wrist" for businesses skirting the law or trying to push the boundaries of what is permissible in terms of events and promotion. "We are the gold standard for gaming, and I want to be the gold standard in the cannabis industry," he said.
Source: Las Vegas Sun on 2018 Nevada Gubernatorial race Jul 19, 2017

The above quotations are from 2018 Nevada Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
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Page last updated: Dec 11, 2018