Fallon hosts Lincoln Day Dinner

Northern Nevada Congressman Mark Amodei served as this year’s speaker at Churchill County’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner on March 18 at the Fallon Convention Center.

Amodei brought his folksy humor mixed in with the challenges Congress faces this session. Gov. Joe Lombardo also commented on his two months in office. Other speakers took center stage for a few minutes each to tell the crowd of about 150 people what they’re doing as elected officials representing either state or local offices.

Amodei drew immediate applause when he said former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is now in the minority Democratic Party. He also noted the administration’s request for 87,000 Internal Revenue Service employees wasn’t going to occur, the coronavirus pandemic is over and people don’t have to take the jab, a reference to the COVID vaccinations.

“Common sense is the right thing to do,” he said.

The Carson City native used a bullet-point approach to a number of events emerging out of Washington, D.C.

Amodei said the 90% of Congress favored Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House, and rules for the 118th Congress were established before the vote on the speaker. The congressman said his fellow lawmakers agreed to eliminate proxy voting and voting in absentia.

Amodei also used sarcasm when describing President Joe Biden’s approach to national and world events such as the Chinese balloon that was shot down after crossing the United States.

“Look, oh my God. Balloons flying over the country,” Amodei mocked.

But Amodei said the Republicans have much to do since they are now the majority party in the House.

“Our job is to get our agenda passed and send it over to those people,” Amodei said, referring to the Senate, where Democrats hold a slim majority.

Amodei gave a shout out to Lombardo, the former Clark County sheriff.

“I was at the State of the State in Carson City,” Amodei said. “We have a Republican governor. I showed up to show our Republican governor respect.”

Amodei also acknowledged Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford's remarks on the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act which included the expansion and modernization of the Navy’s Fallon range complex.

His comments then turned to legislation affecting the transfer of government land to local cities our counties.

“We are going to pass a land bill out of the House this session,” he promised.

Lombardo also spoke on a variety of topics beginning with the current weather situation and emergency declarations affecting almost every county in the state.

“I think we’ll be successful,” Lombardo said, referring efforts to mitigate any spring flooding from the heavy winter snowpack.

Before he discussed a few more topics, he introduced his staff including Dylan Tedford, co-counsel in the governor’s office. After the introductions, Lombardo turned his attention to the Legislature.

“The Legislature hasn’t eaten me yet,” he jokes, eliciting laugher from the audience. “We have some high hurdles to cross in the next six weeks.”

During his first month in office, though, Lombardo used executive orders to remove the COVID measures. He is also requiring state workers to return to their offices.

“State government is a service, and we’re not providing a service if we’re not back in office,” he said but noting there is a 25% vacancy rate in government jobs.

Lombardo is also advocating pay raises across the board for state employees. He expressed surprise when he learned about 35 state workers are on welfare because of their low pay.

“I was flabbergasted,” Lombardo said upon learning of their pay.

Lombardo also made a decision to infuse $2 million into the education system. He wants to see results and said people will lose their jobs if education doesn’t improve.

Before closing, Lombardo encouraged his fellow Republicans to work hard during the next election cycle and flip both the Assembly and Senate to Republican majorities.

Other statewide offices who spoke were Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony and Controller Andy Mathews.

Former Churchill County Republican Central Committee Chairman James Smack and his wife Vickie attended the dinner. Smack is chief deputy controller.