2015 -- the real year of CHANGE

After 6 years in office, change is finally coming to Washington and Nevada -- but probably not the change that Pres. Obama or Nevada leaders envisioned. The unemployment rate is going down, and the economy seems to be humming along. Obamacare's reforms are affecting, for good and bad, the insurance market. Obama's stands against the Keystone XL pipeline and in favor of climate change restrictions on the energy sector are being tested. His 2008 promise to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay is proceeding slowly, thanks to Republican opposition, and reducing the deficit may prove to be impossible this year.

With Republicans in control of both houses of Congress, Pres. Obama said he plans to go "on offense," speaking to Senate Democrats. He wants to maintain his legacy by getting another Democrat elected President in 2016, and potentially taking the Senate back in the same election.

2016 is going to be a change election, and Presidential candidates are already starting to change things up.

Here in Nevada, Sen. Reid is up for re-election. He is lining up donors for his potential run. If he decides not to run, the Democrats will have a hard time replacing him. Gov. Sandoval will probably run if Harry Reid drops out, and all the statewide offices are currently held by Republicans. That means they are the front-runners in the Senate election based on name recognition and potential to affect the outcome through maneuvers like requiring an ID to vote in Clark County, which could suppress the Latino vote.

Immigration reform will be a hot topic here, as will the federal budget. State lawmakers will dominate the news for the first part of 2015, with their efforts to raise taxes being weighed against the no-new-taxes pledge enforced by Chuck Muth. But once the political game in Carson City ends toward the middle of 2015, it's no-holds-barred for Sen. Reid and the national Democrat vs. Republican election.

Gay marriage will be an issue, too. The Supreme Court plans to hear arguments on the issue this term. More thoughts to come, as this is a real year of change!