From shouting matches, members storming out of the chamber,
to alleged physical confrontation, the 2015 session of the Nevada Legislature
had all the signs of being one of the most, if not the most, partisan session
of that elected body. I talked to a few legislators and legislative observers
following the session and all agreed on that point.
The stage was set by the 2014 election results. Republicans
took control of the legislature and all executive offices. Republicans won
races in Democratic majority districts because Democratic voters did not go to
the polls. Statewide turnout was less
than 46 percent.
Between the election and the start of the legislative
session, anticipation of the debate on education and taxes was high, with both
sides of the aisle laying the groundwork for high intensity discussions. The
session did not disappoint.
Was the 2015 session one of the most partisan? To answer
this question, I looked at every vote on every bill, both in committee and on
the floor, from the last four regular legislative sessions; 2009, 2011, 2013,
and 2015.
How many bills were not voted out of committee?
How many bills did not receive a floor vote?
How many votes were unanimous?
How many votes were along party lines?
How many bills were not voted out of committee?
Just under 30% of the bills did not get a committee vote in
the originating chamber. Another 5% did not get a committee vote in the second
chamber. Third and fourth respectively and around the average.
How many bills did not receive a floor vote?
8% of the bills did not get a floor vote in at least one
chamber. This includes bills that were referred to a second committee and not
voted on. This was the highest percentage of the four sessions. The average was
7%.
How many votes were unanimous?
Of the bills that received floor votes, 54% got unanimous
votes in both chambers. This was the second lowest total and well below the
average of almost 58%. Conversely, the session had the highest percentage of
bills with a unanimous vote from one chamber, almost 41%. Again this was well above the average of
slightly over 34%.
This trend was similar for committee votes. Of those making it
out of committee, just over 69% received unanimous votes from committees in
both chambers (2nd highest) while over 35% received unanimous votes
from committees in one chamber. Again, this was the highest of all four
sessions and those votes were mostly Senate committees. The average for
unanimous votes from all committees was just under 68%; slightly over 31% for
one chamber.
How many votes were along party lines?
The antithesis of unanimous is party line. For reasons I do
not know, 2011 had the highest number of party line votes, both on the floor
and in committee of these four sessions. However, 2015 was close behind. The
average for party line votes on the floor in both chambers was 1%. 2015 was 1 ½%.
The average for party line votes in one chamber was just under 5%. 2015 came in
second at the average.
For party line votes in committee, again 2015 was second
highest just after 2011. The average for party line votes in all committees was
slightly less than 2%. 2015 came in second at 2 ½%. For party line votes for committee votes in
one chamber the average is 9 ½%. During the 2015 session, almost 12% were along
party lines in one chamber.
The 2015 session of the Nevada Legislature was one of the
most partisan, if using the last four sessions as a reference point is accepted
as valid.
There’s nothing wrong with respectful disagreement. There’s
nothing evil about votes that are not unanimous. They are just indicators. What
is important is that the political environment, where regardless of the level
of disagreement, respectful
discussion and collaboration can take place so the interests of all
residents can be best served is maintained. The type of actions mentioned in
the first paragraph shouldn’t happen. The Nevada
Election Modernization and Reform Act of 2017 (NEMRA – 2017) is a means to
ensure that type of environment exists.
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