A New Deal for Nevada: Solutions-Driven Leadership for NVCD02

Nevada stands at a crossroads. While mining corporations extract billions in wealth from our land, too many Nevadans struggle to make ends meet. As an independent Democrat, I offer solutions that put people and Nevada’s future first—practical, bold, and achievable. My plan centers on a value-added tax on mining operations to fund a Universal Basic Income (UBI) of $1,300 per month for every resident—regardless of documentation status. In other words, just like during the pandemic, direct cash payments would go to all Nevadans. This policy is rooted not just in economic necessity, but also in moral responsibility, fiscal reality, and genuine independence from corporate interests.

A Fund for All Nevadans

We do not have to reinvent the wheel. We can move in the direction of the Alaska Permanent Fund, where residents receive annual dividends from natural resource revenues, or look to the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund, which invests resource wealth for the benefit of current and future generations. The precise details will be determined in Congress, with input from Nevadans every step of the way. What is certain—and what I will fight for—is a $1,300 monthly Universal Basic Income for all Nevadans, no exceptions.

Whether we choose a model like Alaska’s or Norway’s, the goal is the same: to ensure that Nevada’s natural wealth directly benefits every resident. No more letting our resources enrich only corporations and shareholders. It is time for Nevada’s prosperity to be shared by all who call this state home.

Environmental Justice Isn’t Optional

Here’s where progressive values become non-negotiable: any expansion of mining taxation must include ironclad environmental protections. Polling from the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada shows 73% of Nevadans support stricter mining regulations, with environmental safeguards ranking as a top concern among Democratic and Independent voters.

My solutions demand that every dollar generated by mining is balanced by rigorous environmental and community safeguards. The VAT framework must include:

Mandatory environmental bonds equal to 150% of projected cleanup costs, held in perpetuity until restoration is verified by independent scientists—not industry consultants.

Protected zone designations that place indigenous sacred sites, critical wildlife habitats, and watersheds permanently off-limits. The Western Shoshone, Paiute, and Washoe nations have stewarded this land for millennia. Their sovereignty and sacred spaces are not bargaining chips.

Water usage caps tied to declining aquifer levels, with mining operations bearing the cost of conservation infrastructure. In a desert state facing megadrought, every gallon counts.

Carbon offset requirements that mandate mining companies fund renewable energy projects equal to their operational emissions. If they are extracting lithium for “green” batteries, the extraction process itself must be carbon-neutral.

Recent data from the Center for American Progress confirms that progressive voters—particularly those under 45—overwhelmingly support economic policies that simultaneously address inequality and climate justice. A mining VAT that funds UBI while protecting our environment isn’t a compromise; it’s a coherent vision.

Dignity and Inclusion for All Nevadans

My UBI solution includes all Nevadans, regardless of documentation status, because dignity is non-negotiable. These community members work on our farms, staff our casinos, and pay sales taxes on everything they buy—contributing to our economy while living in the shadows. My approach is not only more efficient and fair, but it also ensures that no Nevadan is left behind or subjected to stigma.

Progressive economists at the Roosevelt Institute have demonstrated that universal programs without citizenship requirements reduce administrative costs, eliminate stigma, and produce better economic outcomes. When everyone receives support, no one is “othered.” In northern Nevada’s rural communities, where undocumented workers are integral to ranching and agriculture, this is not abstract policy—it is about our neighbors.

Why These Solutions Work—Across Party Lines

Critics may cry “socialism,” but Alaska’s oil dividend has survived Republican and Democratic administrations alike because direct payments are popular across the political spectrum. Nevada’s mining tax proposal polled at 58% support statewide in 2022, with even higher numbers in rural counties that have watched corporations profit while their schools crumble.

The mining industry will threaten job losses, but history tells a different story. When Alaska implemented its dividend, employment grew. When Norway taxed North Sea oil at rates exceeding 70%, it became one of the world’s wealthiest nations per capita. Fair taxation does not kill industries—it ensures they serve the public good.

A Solutions-Driven Path Forward for NVCD02

To my neighbors in Nevada’s Second Congressional District: this is our moment. We’re not asking for handouts—we’re demanding our share of the wealth extracted from our land. We’re insisting that economic justice and environmental protection aren’t opposing forces but complementary values.

As I continue these conversations with family, friends, and community members across northern Nevada—from Reno to Elko, Fernley to Fallon—I am listening and learning. I am convinced that together, we can build a model that other states will follow—one rooted in practical solutions, not empty promises.

Imagine a Nevada where a single mother in Winnemucca doesn’t choose between rent and groceries. Where a rancher in Eureka has a cushion when drought strikes. Where a young person in Sparks can take a risk on education or entrepreneurship without fear of destitution. Where the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe’s waters are protected, not polluted. Where lithium mining for electric vehicles doesn’t sacrifice our air and aquifers. These are not dreams—they are achievable solutions when we unite our voices and demand leadership that works for all of us.

This is not utopian dreaming—it is practical policy grounded in data, values, and the simple truth that Nevada’s resources belong to Nevadans. As an independent Democrat, I believe we cannot afford to wait for someone else to solve these problems. The time for solutions is now.

The conversation starts now. We are battle born. Let’s build this future together.