Nevada Chief Executive Protects Free Market from Government Overreach
By Brittany Sheehan, Nevada News & Views, June 6, 2025
Governor Joe Lombardo just did something that should make every conservative proud. He vetoed a bill that would have let Attorney General Aaron Ford control prices across Nevada.
Assembly Bill 44 wasn’t called “price control.” Ford was smarter than that. He called it a ban on “price manipulation.” But scratch the surface and you’ll see what it really was – government telling businesses what they can charge.
What This Bill Would Have Done
AB 44 would have given Ford’s office power to investigate any business that raised prices on things people need daily. Food, housing, medicine – anything costing more than $750 a month.
The problem? The bill never clearly defined what counts as “manipulation.” A landlord raising rent to cover higher insurance costs could be investigated. A grocery store owner charging more because his supplier raised prices could face prosecution.
Lombardo wrote in his veto message:
“The bill fails to recognize that prices reflect complex supply chain dynamics and market forces,”
Picture your local business owner having to hire lawyers every time he adjusts prices. That’s what this bill would have created.
Why Conservatives Should Celebrate
This was government overreach at its worst. One elected official would have gotten power to second-guess every pricing decision by private businesses.
Lombardo saw right through it. The bill gave Ford’s office unlimited investigation powers with no clear rules. No timelines. No protection for businesses from fishing expeditions.
The governor wrote:
“Granting any office such expansive, unchecked authority without clear, objective standards is untenable,”
This is exactly how businesses get driven out of states. When politicians start setting prices, companies start looking for friendlier places to operate.
The Hidden Rent Control Plan
The bill had a special focus on housing. Ford claimed he wanted to stop “rent manipulation.” Really, he wanted rent control without calling it that. Lombardo understood this trick.
In his veto message, he wrote:
“AB 44 would effectively impose rent control by restricting property owners’ ability to adjust rents,”
Rent control fails everywhere it’s tried. It reduces housing supply by making it unprofitable to build apartments or fix existing ones. Nevada needs more housing, not less.
When landlords can’t charge market rates, they stop investing. They stop maintaining properties. Renters suffer most when housing quality drops and supply shrinks.
What Critics Say
Democrats claim the bill would have protected consumers from “price gouging.” They point to rising costs as proof businesses are taking advantage. But that’s not how markets work. Prices rise when supply drops or demand increases. Government can’t fix that by threatening business owners.
Even some moderate Democrats had concerns. The bill barely passed, suggesting even liberals were uncomfortable giving Ford so much power.
Why This Matters
Price controls don’t work. They create shortages and hurt the people they’re supposed to help. Look at California and New York – states with rent control have the worst housing crises.
Ford has been using his office for political prosecutions. This bill would have given him more tools to target political enemies.
Studies prove free markets work better than government control. Lombardo chose markets, and Nevada’s economy will be stronger for it.
What’s Next
Legislators will try similar bills in future sessions. They’ll use softer language but the goal stays the same – government controlling private business decisions.
Conservatives must stay engaged. Support candidates who understand economics and respect property rights. Push back against politicians promising easy solutions to complex problems.
Make sure friends and neighbors understand what’s really at stake. When politicians talk about “fighting price gouging,” they usually mean controlling businesses and restricting freedom.
The fight over AB 44 shows the difference between trusting markets versus trusting government. Lombardo chose correctly.
Conservative principles aren’t just ideas – they have real consequences for people trying to make a living. When government gets out of the way, everyone benefits.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.