NEVADA NEWS & VIEWS 08/29/2015

Las Vegas anti-tax petitioners file pre-emptive lawsuit

By Sandra Chereb
Las Vegas Review-Journal Capital Bureau

CARSON CITY — Backers of an initiative petition seeking to quash a $1.4 billion tax package passed by the 2015 Legislature have filed a pre-emptive lawsuit asking a judge to declare that the referendum does not violate the single-subject rule before supporters begin gathering signatures to put it on the ballot.

The suit by the We Decide Coalition and Assembly members Shelly Shelton, John Moore and Michele Fiore, all R-Las Vegas, was filed Thursday in Clark County District Court.

Chuck Muth, head of the anti-tax coalition, said the suit is a pre-emptive move to try to block an anticipated lawsuit from the newly formed Coalition for Nevada's Future PAC challenging the referendum on the single-subject issue.

The We Decide Coalition filed its referendum with the secretary of state's office earlier this month, but supporters have not yet started collecting signatures. Language in the referendum is identical to what was passed by the Legislature, which also has to follow the single-subject rule, Muth argues.

Backers of the initiative process, including Muth's Citizen Outreach group, have a challenge to the single-subject requirement in front of the Nevada Supreme Court. The case was argued before the court in March 2014 by another initiative proponent, Las Vegas attorney Kermitt Waters, but no ruling has yet been issued.

Waters filed the latest suit on behalf of the coalition.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901. Find her on Twitter: @SandraChereb