Nevada Lawmakers Urge Governor to Hire Fired Federal Employees

In a move that might make even the most seasoned politician raise an eyebrow, Nevada Assemblymembers are asking Governor Joe Lombardo to give a second chance to those unfortunate federal workers fired by the Trump administration. The request comes in the form of a letter penned by Speaker Steve Yeager, Speaker Pro-Tempore Daniele Monroe-Moreno, and Assembly Majority Floor Leader Sandra Jauregui, which, if nothing else, is proof that some things in politics never change.

In their missive, these fine folks express concern for the state’s 20,000 federal employees who’ve found themselves without a paycheck, let alone the healthcare that often comes with the job. The trio, no doubt acting out of genuine concern, suggest that the Governor might take a page from the playbooks of states like Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico, who have already taken it upon themselves to reabsorb the displaced workers into state roles.

Now, we find that Lombardo is not one to bow to the demands of the Legislature. His office responded faster than a jackrabbit running over asphalt on a hot day, reminding everyone that Nevada has been the picture of economic prosperity—if you consider leading the nation in employment growth and adding over 30,000 workers to the labor force a sign of success.

And while the Governor didn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for the federal employees in question, he did encourage them to get in line like everyone else and apply for state employment, where they can continue serving the state in a manner that, no doubt, will make them as useless as they were in their previous jobs. Lombardo’s camp also took a moment to remind the Legislature that their job is to pass laws, not to grandstand for the political spotlight.

Maybe we all just started hiring each other.