Building on who the players are, let’s talk tactics. Imagine a bill floating through the Nevada Assembly, one that could hike mining royalties and fund schools better. But poof, it vanishes. How? Lobbyists didn’t just show up, they engineered its demise from day one.

Here’s how it works. Lobbyists start by building relationships, think golf outings or fact-finding trips, all legal under Nevada’s rules. They provide “expert” testimony, backed by studies their clients fund. It’s been reported that in 2023, local governments alone spent millions lobbying the legislature, with Churchill County dropping over $140,000 to push their agendas.

Take a real example: In the 2019 session, mining lobbyists poured $234,250 into campaigns, helping kill a bill that would’ve raised taxes on gold extraction. They argued it would kill jobs, and lawmakers listened. Nationally, pharma giants spent $293.7 million in 2024 lobbying against drug price caps, influencing bills like the Inflation Reduction Act.

From a conservative view, this can safeguard free markets, preventing overregulation that stifles growth. But when it favors the connected over competition, it’s cronyism pure and simple. I’ve heard stories from insiders about “amendment ambushes,” where lobbyists slip in last-minute changes that benefit one industry.

This sets the stage for Nevada’s biggest player: gaming. Next, we’ll see how casino lobbyists have turned Sin City into a lobbying masterpiece, reshaping our economy. It’s a tale of triumph and caution, you won’t want to skip.
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