Blayne Osborne, Douglas County Commissioner
CITIZEN LEGISLATOR UPDATES WITH MINDEN ROTARY
Gardnerville born Nevada State Assemblymember Blayne Osborn joined the Minden Rotary Club for a question-and-answer session this past week. As a lifelong Douglas County resident, Osborn graduated from Douglas High School in 2008. As a high school junior, he wanted to join the Marine Corps, but a scoliosis diagnosis and surgery precluded that dream. Instead, he went to Western Nevada College where he was able to participate in an internship with the Nevada legislature at age 19. He then went on to the University of Nevada and has since gotten his MBA. Blayne has been with the Nevada Rural Hospital Partners for the past ten years, and currently serves as President of the organization (hence a working citizen legislator).
After Ken Gray vacated his seat last summer, Osborn was appointed to the Assembly position by unanimous approvals by the Douglas and Lyon County Commissions this past November. Normally, the Nevada legislature only meets 120 days every other year. But this year brought a special session right after Veterans Day in November. The special sessions are supposed to be rare and unique and have happened in the past for such topics as Tesla and Panasonic desiring to move into the state and the Oakland Athletics move to Las Vegas. This session was different as seventeen bills were heard and the session lasted an entire week. One of the bills involved the incentives for Hollywood to move studios to Nevada. Osborn determined that this project would have “to drastically outperform to breakeven”, so he voted against this bill. But three bills - related to crime, health care and school safety - were good bills that were passed.
Questions from Rotarians included the following:
SCHOOL FUNDING
Osborn explained that, starting in 2021 school funding was changed when a Nevada state bill (PCFP or “Pupil Centered Funding Plan”) capped what counties could contribute to their local schools. This resulted in $4 million of Douglas County annual revenue, $3 million of Lyon County revenue and $1 million from Story County going to Clark County where student revenue was only about $6000 per student (as opposed to the majority of counties, at around $10,000 per student). Combined with declining enrollment (4.7%), this has led to a large deficit in Douglas County as well as nearly every County except Clark County. “Going into the next legislative session, this will be the biggest issue” according to Osborn.
VA COMMUNITY CARE IN RURAL AREAS
While we used to see the VA not being a good payor, Osborn indicated that they are now much more timely and accurate. He also reports that our Veterans are loving the choice program.
HIGH COST OF LIVING
While fortunate to buy a house in the Ranchos in 2015, Osborn recognizes this dream is a struggle for those with good jobs in law enforcement, fire and education. He praised the Governor for a bill passed in June to help first time buyers but acknowledged that this has not had a big impact in Douglas County yet.
MARK AMODEI RETIREMENT ANNOUNCED ONE MONTH BEFORE CANDIDATE FILING DEADLINE
Currently, at least 15 are interested, but it is “difficult to put a congressional campaign together in such a short time.” He threw out names such as Sam Brown and Joey Gilbert as people who have indicated they are interested. Osborn stated he “would love to see Senator Settlemeyer throw his hat in the ring.”
Osborn described 2009 as a legislative intern as a “time when no metal detectors were present and people were able to meet with legislators without an appointment”. While the metal detectors are now installed, it is still an “open and transparent process” and encourages all to come and observe the process. He intends to file next month to run for the office he currently holds by appointment.
