On Continuous Innovation and How You Can Help
Tomorrow marks an important day in my freshman career as a legislator. After almost a year and a half from when the idea was brought to my attention, Nevada’s living will lock box will be launched (press release, PDF). With this new service, Nevadans wishing to take charge of their medical futures will be able to store their living wills in a protected online “lock box” for retrieval by medical professionals during a time of need. Read more about the 2007 legislation that enacted the program and recent coverage of the launch.
I’ll be joining Secretary of State Ross Miller in both Reno and Las Vegas tomorrow to announce the launch of the program. There is much to celebrate- particularly the hard work of the Secretary of State’s office staff, and the Nevada Center for Ethics and Health Policy. Hats off to the Center for bringing me the idea for my first bill, and kudos to Ross Miller for seeing the possibility. I remember my first conversations with Ross and his office: “yeah, that makes a lot of sense- documents are what we do!”
But back before the bill was passed last session, before the bill draft was submitted, even before Noel Tiano and the Center pitched me on the concept over coffee, there was the birth of the idea. With all the news of our state’s economic situation, the conditions of our schools, health care and other aspects of our quality of life, it’s easy to get caught in the mire and stop asking the question: how can we keep innovating in order to do better for Nevadans?
In this time before the 2009 legislative session, I’m in active conversations with a number of constituents about ideas to take to Carson City for next session. Ways to save taxpayer dollars, ideas to protect and assist Nevadans, measures to make our great state even better- now is the time to bring your ideas forward.
Maybe you have an innovation you’d like to share. I recently mailed out a legislative issues survey to my neighbors in District 24. If you haven’t had a chance to fill it out, there’s still plenty of time to send it in. You can also take the survey online.
I already received a pile of the cards back and will continue my review of responses on the plane tomorrow. I look forward to hearing from you!