Latest news with #CortezMasto
The Hill
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
Senate GOP blocks push to restore gambling losses deduction
Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked an effort by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) to restore the 100 percent tax deduction for gambling losses after it was cut down to 90 percent in President Trump's massive tax and spending package that became law last week. Cortez Masto attempted to restore the full deduction via unanimous consent on the floor, arguing that the provision, which many Senate Republicans were unaware of until the entire bill became law, would harm her state immensely. Las Vegas is known as the 'gambling capital of the world.' 'It will do irreparable harm to our nation's gaming industry if it takes effect — especially in Nevada,' she said on the floor, adding that it will 'disincentivize' gamblers, pointing to those competing at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas this week. 'It will move major events that drive our economy offshore and push wagering into illegal markets, and it could punish tourists who come to Vegas to win big,' she added. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) objected to her effort, but also sought to amend it before passing it once again. Young noted that he is actually supportive of Cortez Masto's bill to restore the full deduction, but said that he wanted a carveout from the endowment tax for religious institutions. The provision was initially stricken from the 'big, beautiful bill' by the Senate parliamentarian. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) eventually objected to the amended proposal. 'The Republican bill is full of special carveouts for some groups, new taxes on others,' he said. 'The fact is when you rush a process like this this way and cram in all of these policies that you haven't really thought about, you risk some consequences for people back home, and that is what is going on here and this attempt by our colleague to pass this special tax carveout for just one institution.' The University of Notre Dame is part of Indiana, which Young represents. 'It is a shame we cannot pass this common sense fix because Republicans want to weigh it down with unrelated measures that they voted to support,' Cortez Masto said, adding that she still hopes to get the revision across the finish line eventually.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Senate Dems unveil their answer on Medicaid fraud
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., will release Senate Democrats' answer to Republican efforts to combat Medicaid and Medicare fraud as part of the GOP's sweeping tax-and-spending bill. A discussion draft crafted by the Nevada Democrat and shared with Semafor would boost funding for the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program, which recovered $11 for every $1 it spent in 2022, and expand it to oversee all Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services programs, including the Affordable Care Act's health insurance marketplace. The centerpiece of a larger suite of proposals Senate Democrats will announce today, it's 'exactly what our agencies need to root out real fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid while protecting Americans' access to care,' Cortez Masto said. Its release comes as congressional Republicans continue their push to pass their package by July 4.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cortez Masto grills Burgum on public land sales proposal for Senate's funding bill
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto asked for details about a federal plan to sell 2 million acres of public lands, but U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum didn't have answers on Wednesday. At a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, Cortez Masto wanted to know more about Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee's reported plan to revive attempts to sell off public lands. Lee is the chairman of the committee. Burgum confirmed it was under consideration, but had no other information. A similar plan that Nevada Republican Rep. Mark Amodei attached to the 'one big, beautiful bill' in a late-night U.S. House committee vote eventually failed because it wasn't supported by Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke, who served as Interior secretary during Trump's first term. Now the battle has moved to the U.S. Senate. Despite follow-up questions from Cortez Masto, Burgum couldn't provide details or identify anyone in Nevada who the administration is working with to ensure land sales actually meet the needs of the local communities. Burgum said he was 'not actively engaged' in negotiations, according to a news release from Cortez Masto's office. 'I'm asking you because we have not seen anything,' Cortez Masto said. 'The chairman has (the proposal), it is behind closed doors. I would assume you would be talking … because you're going to be taking the lead as the lead agency. So if you don't know, I'm really concerned and we should all be concerned across the West.' Last week, speculation grew around what Lee would propose in the Senate. Public lands in Nevada and Utah appear to be likely targets. Cortez Masto pressed Burgum on how these public lands might figure into helping to solve Nevada's affordable housing crisis, but Democrats have widely described the land sale as an attempt to fund renewal of President Donald Trump's 2017 tax breaks that are about to expire. She also criticized Burgum over his statements regarding the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA). Burgum talked about the importance of a comprehensive process like SNPLMA as a model for federal land sales earlier in the hearing, Cortez Masto's office said. BLM auction brings $16 million for 8 parcels across Las Vegas valley 'You talk about the benefits (of this model), but in action you're not doing it,' she said. 'In fact, on the House side — and I'm assuming they worked with the administration — their reconciliation package included federal land sales … that weren't even near areas where you could actually do affordable housing.' She said Amodei's amendment would have sold land in the middle of the desert. 'There's no infrastructure. I don't know any builder who is going to build housing in the middle of the desert, it makes no sense,' Cortez Masto said. SNPLMA has provided funds for parks, recreation and water infrastructure in Nevada, but the federal government has been criticized as too slow to free up lands needed to build more housing. A compromise struck by the Bureau of Land Management under Joe Biden allowed the sale of land for $100 an acre, which would have paved the way for affordable housing construction. But that price also drastically reduced the amount of money flowing to parks through BLM land auctions. Later Wednesday, U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he would cancel the July 4 recess week to complete work on the 'one big, beautiful bill.' It's unclear if Republicans have the support to pass the reconciliation spending package. And even if it passes with public land sales included, the changes would be subject to approval in the House, where Zinke has said he will be a firm 'no.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Bloomberg
05-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Sen. Cortez Masto on Tax Bill, Elon Musk, Travel Ban
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D) Nevada shares her thoughts on how the tax bill could be effected by the ongoing feud between President Trump and Elon Musk. Senator Cortez Masto states it's important to kill the bill, discusses her concerns over Elon Musk having access to important and sensitive information, and talks about the President's newest travel ban. She speaks with Kailey Leinz and Joe Mathieu on the late edition of Bloomberg's "Balance of Power." (Source: Bloomberg)
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nevada businesses hit by tourism drop from tariffs
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto said it is currently crunch time for the National Park Service, small businesses, and the travel industry in Nevada. Cortez Masto held a press conference Thursday at Wetlands Park to discuss the decline in tourism and funding, which she attributes to the Trump Administration's tariffs. 'We are seeing a negative impact on families across the state. From food to energy, healthcare costs, clothing, you name it,' Senator Cortez Masto added. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the Administration is keeping Americans from being taken advantage of. 'The President's trade policy will continue, and we will comply with the courts' orders,' Leavitt shared. As for outdoor recreation, places like Lake Mead and Red Rock, among others, draw $8.1 billion to Nevada's economy annually. Mandi Elliott, with Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition, said it is hurting businesses like rental company Basecamp Outdoor Gear, which caters to travelers and their outdoor belongings. 'The drop in tourism is affecting their bottom line, and with the tariff increase, there's a lot of uncertainty for their small business. It's not as simple to just buy all your materials from the U.S. The cost is extreme, and most can't keep up,' Elliott added. On Thursday, a federal appeals court ruled that President Donald Trump's tariffs can continue until a final ruling is made. This counteracts a ruling a day earlier from the court of international trade that blocked the tariffs. The appeals court said the President can levy tariffs using the emergency powers he declared earlier this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
