Today, Assembly Majority Floor Leader Sandra Jauregui held a press conference with NV Dems Caucus Chair Donna West to announce a bill draft request reintroducing AB298. Democrats passed this bill last session and it would have protected seniors and Nevadans with disabilities from soaring rent prices, but unfortunately, it was vetoed by Joe Lombardo.
Under Lombardo, Las Vegas has one of the highest eviction rates in the country. Last legislative session, he vetoed several bills that would have lowered costs and helped keep hardworking Nevadans in their homes. Lombardo doubled down on his vetoes, blaming Nevadan’s most vulnerable residents’ losing their homes on them just not “making an effort.”
Advocacy groups have made it clear that bills like AB298 would have significantly assisted in addressing the eviction and homeless crisis. Unfortunately, Lombardo has always prioritized his corporate donors over working families, and his number one donor is billionaire slumlord Robert Bigelow, who bankrolled his gubernatorial campaign. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Lombardo vetoed vital housing affordability legislation like AB298 to protect his corporate interests’ bottom line, instead of putting Nevada seniors and families first.
“Amid rising housing insecurity, this bill is about taking a significant measure to address skyrocketing rents and tackling the housing crisis to help hard-working Nevadans,” said Assembly Majority Floor Leader Sandra Jauregui. “The bill would prioritize seniors and people with disabilities, our most vulnerable population who are often on a fixed income.”
“Several of my friends are on fixed incomes and rely on Social Security and other programs that we’ve earned with little to no breathing room in our budgets,” said NV Dems Senior Caucus Chair Donna West. “Many can’t rest easy during their retirement because every month they have to worry about whether they’ll be able to pay for groceries or pay for rent.”
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In-person early voting in Nevada is ongoing and runs through November 1st. Nevadans can register and vote at any polling location in their county. Election Day is November 5th. For more information visit: https://nvdems.com/party/2024-voting-resources/
