Jon Ralston's post on Politics | Latest updates on Sulia

Harry Mortenson is out of office, but he hasn't lost the politician's bragging reflex

Here's what the ex-assemblyman who failed to make a comeback this cycle sent out: Life is great! I was term-limited from the state legislature two years ago; yet, one week ago I significantly changed the Constitution of the State of Nevada. When you voted on State Question Number One, you were actually voting on AJR-5 (Assembly Joint Resolution Number 5) a bill that I introduced into the 2009 Legislature. The bill passed the 2009 legislature; then it passed the 2011 legislature. Any proposed constitutional amendment must pass two-successive legislative sessions and then go for a vote-of-the-people. On November 6, 2012 you voted YES or NO on State Question Number One (which was the new name for AJR-5). The voters, in their wisdom, passed State Question Number One by a plurality of more than 75,000 votes. That changed the Nevada-State Constitution and significantly changed the operating parameters of the Nevada State Legislature. Eight-days ago the State Legislature was able to convene itself to perform its constitutional duties for only 4-months out of a 24-month biennium. If any legislative emergencies arose in the intervening 20 months, the legislature was powerless to convene and intercede. Only the Governor could convene the legislature. This was a gross violation of the three equal-and-independent-branches-of-government upon which our nation and our state were founded. The problem has now been constitutionaly solved. Actually, I didn’t accomplish this rare constitutional change single-handedly. I had the help of 511,092 voters. Life does deal some good cards!