At chamber meeting -- Sen. Emery backs three of four state amendments

Nevada Daily Mail

Senator Ed Emery gave members of the Nevada Vernon County Chamber of Commerce an update on the pending amendments on the November election ballot.

Emery gave a brief overview of the four ballot measures and his views on each during Friday's monthly luncheon at the Nevada Country Club.

Amendment 2, dealing with prosecutions involving sex crimes against minors, allows "propensity evidence," where there is a record of prior offenses by the accused.

Emery said most other states and the federal government already allow such evidence.

He noted there would still be a judicial review, providing protection for the accused and requiring a judge to certify the evidence as pertinent to the case.

He said he was also in favor of Amendment 3. He said this was the most controversial of the amendments. Referencing his legislative report that he said he finished prior to attending the luncheon, Amendment 3 "introduces education reforms that the education establishment largely opposes."

He said at the chamber luncheon that the amendment puts the "power back with local school boards" in the evaluation of teacher effectiveness.

He added this would make it "easier to recognize and reward the best teachers."

Several area schools have taken a position in opposition to the amendment.

The Nevada R-5 School Board voted at its most recent meeting 7-0 to adopt a resolution opposing the amendment.

The Sheldon R-8 Board of Education voted to adopt a resolution to oppose Amendment 3 on the November ballot at its regular meeting on Sept. 10.

Emery said he opposed Amendment 6, noting that, "I am not a fan of anything that compromises our voting."

In his legislative report, he said the amendment "loosens the state's current absentee voter law. It sets a bad precedent in ensuring sound elections.

"A no-excuse expanded time period for voting threatens the integrity of both the campaign process and the election process."

He told the chamber audience that he believed this would increase the possibility of voter fraud.

The final measure on the ballot, Amendment 10, he said, was in response to Gov. Jay Nixon's budget process and would give the state legislature the ability to override the governor's use of withholdings.

Emery said at the luncheon he didn't believe the governor should be able to budget as reality "something that he anticipates."

"A governor could not forecast revenues based on the anticipation that the General Assembly will pass a tax increase," he explained further in his report.

The amendment also "provides a check on any governor who tries to manipulate budget withholdings for political purposes.

"Abuses to the governor's power to withhold funds make it necessary to provide a check and balance on behalf of those agencies that are being used as political pawns."

The luncheon touched on upcoming events, the Community Council on the Performing Arts upcoming tryouts Oct. 13 for its next performance, the NRTC and DECA's Stand up to Cancer Club's 5K Color Run/Walk Oct. 18, and the Nevada Regional Medical Center Foundation's Gala Oct. 18, the Vernon County Historical Society's bus tour to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Oct. 20, the autism seminar hosted by On My Own Oct. 22, and the Fourth Friday Coffee at NRMC Oct. 24, and the Safe Treats Parade Oct. 31.

The chamber will host a candidates' forum Oct. 28, at 7 p.m., at Cottey College's Haidee and Allen Wild Center for the Performing Arts, in the Missouri Recital Hall.

Entries are still being sought for the annual Veterans' Parade Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 4 p.m.