IN SINCERE APPRECIATION

     Now retired, Sen. Neal thanks all who supported him in his 32 years in the upper house. He will remain engaged (see below) with the great issues, as he has throughout his life. The continuing high volume of traffic to this website reinforces and rewards that commitment. Thank you.

VISITATION: Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 8:30-10:30 a.m., Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway; Henderson, Nevada

MEMORIAL SERVICE: Friday, Oct. 17, 11:00 a.m., St. Peter's Catholic Church, 204 S. Boulder Highway @ Lake Mead, Henderson [Editor's note: We were originally informed that the service was at 11:00 a.m., changed to 12:00 noon then back to 11:00 a.m. We hope this is the final schedule. Sorry for any inconvenience.]

RECEPTION: 1:00 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, Henderson Convention Center, 200 S. Water Street, Henderson

In Memoriam

Former Nevada State Assembly Majority Leader Jeffrey, D-Las Vegas, was a longtime legislative colleague of Sen. Neal. Condolences to his friends and family.

Statement from Sen. Neal: "Jack was one of my favorite people at the Legislature. When Gov. List wanted to take the fire sprinkler law away from me in 1981, Jack made a trip to the Senate to ask me about it, noting that the governor wanted to substitute his bill for mine. I told Jack to take all the good things from the governor's bill and put them into mine."

The resulting legislation, passed over gambling industry objections in the wake of the 1980 MGM Grand fire and the 1981 Las Vegas Hilton conflagration, became the toughest high-rise fire safety law in the world.

"In one of my first sessions, either in 1973 or 1975, some racists hassled me at a Carson City Basque restaurant. I told Jack about it," Sen. Neal remembers.

"Jack said 'next time that happens, you come get me.'

"The last time I saw him was at the Henderson history event last year. Jack was there with his wife (Betty)," Neal said.

Jeffrey was a longtime union member. He died of cancer which metastasized from his lungs. Jack smoked.

From former Assemblymember Bob Price, D-North Las Vegas
Forwarded by former University System Regent Nancy Price

"I am sad to hear about the death of my friend Jack Jeffrey. Jack and I served together in the Nevada Assembly for many years. We served on committees and shared a labor background. My heart goes out to his wife Betty and the family. The people of the State of Nevada benefit from Jack's hard work as a legislator."

Continuing updates and memories will be posted here and more are encouraged.

Return of the old lions

60 YEARS' WORTH OF EXPERIENCE SORELY MISSED IN 2011 (3-21-2011) — 32-year former Sen. Joe Neal and 28-year former Assemblyman Bob Price, both D-N. Las Vegas, back in the great halls where they belong. Sen. Neal was in Carson City to witness the introduction of the first bill sponsored by his daughter, freshman Assemblywoman Dina Neal, D-N. Las Vegas. Bob and Nancy Price journeyed from their Sparks home to the capital for a noontime workers rally. (Photo courtesy of Nancy Price.)

Nevada Legislative News Roundup

 

Marching for equal rights and equal pay on tax day

April 14, 2014

For more information contact
Janette Dean - Cell (775) 771-8735
For Event on April 15, 2014—  Helene de Boissiere-Swanson, Cell (415) 233-2049

Washoe Valley resident, UNR political science major and 2013 Outstanding Nevada Legislative Intern Janette Dean is working toward passage of the ERA and plans to reach out to a Nevada State Senator to introduce ratification legislation in the 78th Session. She was also able to speak with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Searchlight, on Monday morning at a "Meet the Candidate and Elected Officials" forum in which he emphasized the importance of many issues such as comprehensive immigration reform, expanded renewable energy usage, an increase in the minimum wage, and equal pay for women who earn just 77 cents to the dollar compared with men.

In reply to her question about supporting the ERA, Reid told Dean and the audience that he would have no problem supporting federal legislation providing passage of the ERA or with Nevada ratification as one of the final three states needed.

In fact, he told Dean, "It's been long enough, hasn't it?"

Dean says she also wants passage of the ERA because "it will finally allow the United States to also ratify the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) treaty which we signed in July 1980 but did not ratify because there is no strong legal mechanism to put its provisions into practice which is required upon ratification; the ERA as the 28th Amendment would provide that. Only seven out of 194 countries have not ratified the CEDAW treaty, including the United States, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Iran and two small Pacific island nations (Palau and Tonga)."

Dean also stated that her current International Human Rights class inspired her involvement to help get Nevada to ratify the ERA. "In class, I learned that despite the fact that women should be protected under existing human rights laws, widespread discrimination in terms of pay, leadership positions, unprosecuted violence, legal bias, and other forms of discrimination continues including deprivation of education and healthcare in several developing areas. This is why laws that specifically outlaw discrimination by sex are indeed necessary such as the long overdue ERA."

Text of the Equal Rights Amendment:

Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

SNATCHING DEFEAT FROM THE JAWS OF VICTORY — Read how Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, engineered the most artful piece of parliamentary maneuvering in the history of the Nevada Legislature to pass the ERA in the good old boys' State Senate of 1977 — only to see the bill killed in the previously-committed and lewdly liberal State Assembly by a dirty political deal between two juice lobbyists and eight turncoat Democrats.

UPDATE+Photo: Marching for equal rights and equal pay on tax day

 

Click in the above image for the Reno demonstration's Facebook page.
Contact: Marianne Denton, 775- 843-9550.

Occupy Carson City will also demonstrate from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday in front of the Nevada Legislature on S. Carson Street in the capital city. Contact: Janette Dean, 775-461-3282

MAY 21, 2009
ONCE MORE UNTO THE BREACH!

TODAY ON THE BARBWIRE: Former State Senator Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas. A longtime proponent of making the gambling industry pay its fair share, Neal was a key player in the tax package passed in the 2003 session. He was also an advocate of health care reform during his 32 years in the senate (1972-2004). A member of the senate hall of fame, he is second in tenure only to Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno. Neal served as president pro-tem, minority leader and acting governor during his time in office.

His website, JoeNeal.org, still earns substantial daily traffic, especially when the legislature is in session. He visited his former colleagues in Carson City earlier this week.

TUNE IN, TURN ON AND TELL A FRIEND. The Barbwire Show airs live each Tuesday and Thursday 4:00-5:00 p.m. PDT (23:00-24:00 GMT/ZULU) during the 2009 legislative session (and subsequent special sessions, heaven forbid). Television and web viewers may call the Barbwire with questions (775) 882-8255 [882-TALK], while the program is in progress.

The show is broadcast on Access Carson Charter digital cable channels 210 and 226. (The blackguards at Charter Communications just switched the channel positions and the former analog positions at 10 and 26 were not forwarded to the new sites as of Tuesday. By Christmas, perhaps?)

Web viewers may access real-time webstreaming at Barbwire.TV. On-demand web viewing is available later on the same day as the original cablecast, also linked at Barbwire.TV.

The programs will rerun as part of Andrew Barbano's regular daily time slot, 2:00-4:00 p.m. PDT (21:00-23:00 GMT/ZULU) Monday thru Friday on Reno-Sparks-Washoe SNCAT Charter cable digital channels 16 and 216 and high-definition channel 80-295. They will also rebroadcast on other cable systems statewide, including Ely, Elko and Douglas County.

    "I cannot help but hear the voice of our friend and colleague, Senator Joe Neal, whose passion for this process and compassion for the working people of this state are guideposts by which we should all measure our actions." — From Nevada Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford's floor remarks on the opening day of the 75th regular session of the Nevada Legislature. Sen. Horsford holds Sen. Neal's former seat in the upper house. (2-2-2009)

Reno Gazette-Journal 2-3-2009

NO AVERAGE JOE: It was like old home week Monday for Joe Neal, as the former longtime senator from North Las Vegas mingled with colleagues and foes at a prayer breakfast in the Old Assembly Chambers and during the opening session of the Senate.

He received standing ovations at both venues. Even the gaming lobbyists applauded.

"I was kind of a thorn in the sides of the gaming folks," Neal said.

First elected in 1972, Neal was the first African-American elected to the Senate in Nevada history. A Democrat, he served 32 years in the Senate, representing District 4 in Clark County, the seat now held by Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford. Neal ran for governor in 2002 but lost to incumbent Republican Kenny Guinn.

His Senate colleagues remembered him for his fiery speeches on the floor.

"He could get an ice cube fired up," said State Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno.