Shouldn’t We Try the Obvious First?
The problem is unemployment. The objective is to create jobs and get people working again. By definition doesn’t that mean the first thing we should do is repeal the job-killing minimum wage law and allow a willing employee to work for a willing employer for a mutually agreed upon salary without the government interfering in […]
Tax-Hike Floodgates are Now Open
Assemblyliberal Sheila Leslie (D-Reno) introduced a new tax hike on Friday, this one aimed primarily at low-income Nevadans. Leslie proposes hiking the tax on cigarettes by $1 a pack, on top of a recently enacted 60-cents per pack federal hike in the cigarette tax. First the Nevada Legislature went after tourists for a tax hike […]
Divided Business Community About to Fall
The consensus in the Legislature these days is that a huge tax hike absolutely, positively will be passed this year. The only question is whose ox will be gored and whether or not foolish Republicans will go along with it and give Democrats the political cover they’ll need in the 2010 elections.
Let Them Eat Mush!
The good news is the Assembly Republican Caucus finally put out a press release yesterday after a four week drought. The bad news is it was a lot of words which said…well, nothing. Here, take a read of these snippets from Republican Minority Leader Heidi Gansert’s release…
Nevada Guv Speaks with Forked-Tongue on Taxes
“Many legislators have referred to ‘enhancing revenues’, which simply means creating new taxes or raising existing taxes,” according to a statement from Gov. Jim Gibbons released yesterday afternoon. “Whether it’s income taxes, sales tax hikes, property tax hikes, DMV fee hikes, or higher taxes on businesses, legislators should bring their lists out of the shadows […]
Democrats Falling in Love with Reagan
I was informed yesterday morning that Nevada Democrat Assemblywoman Peggy Pierce invoked Ronald Reagan’s name in a “Nevada Newsmakers” interview this week by claiming that Reagan, when governor of California in 1967, broke the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and raised taxes.
Closing the Tax Hike Loophole
Hoping to limit the damage state legislators seem to do every time they meet, Nevada’s voters passed a constitutional amendment a few years ago limiting legislative sessions to 120 days every two years. Alas, it took legislators in the Assembly less than thirty days this year to approve the third largest tax hike in the […]
Have No Fear, Bug Man Is Here!
Mortgage meltdown. Foreclosed homes. Rising unemployment. A $2 billion budget hole. Choked highways. Failing schools. And yet…
Rain, Rain, Go Away
Assembly Republicans have unanimously co-sponsored a bill (AB 221) to increase the amount of money put into the state’s Rainy Day Fund. We’d tell you all about this bill…um, if the Assembly Caucus would issue, you know, like, a press release or a statement or a policy paper or…something on it. I mean, the Democrats […]
A Tale of Two Primary Bills
Sen. Joyce Woodhouse (D-Las Vegas) has introduced a bill (SB 162) to move Nevada’s primary elections from mid-August to mid-June. Such a move benefits under-funded challenger candidates, giving them an additional two months to communicate directly with voters before the general election, as well as replenish drained coffers after contested primary elections.
Guv Suddenly Discovers State Sovereignty
Responding to criticism yesterday by Democrat Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Las Vegas) – who said it was “foolish” that he might reject a little bit of the Barack Obama “spendulus” money because there are federal strings attached – Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons issued a press release defending his honor and conservative bona fides. No, really. Stop […]
Depends on Your Definition of “Essential”
“Of course, providing adequate services takes money and that money must come from taxation,” Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio (R-Reno) writes in a March 3 email to a constituent. “In my view, Nevada cannot drastically cut taxes and still remain economically competitive, particularly in these difficult times when public revenues may not even be adequate […]
We All Play Different Roles
“Richard Viguerie,” reports John Fund of Political Diary, “a direct mail expert who began his career after the Goldwater defeat of 1964, says Republicans have to understand the dual nature of a political opposition.”
There He Goes Again
Gov. Jim Gibbons was on the Heidi Harris talk show in Las Vegas this morning and continued to dissemble about the room tax hike. When asked if he was going to veto the teachers union’s proposal if it makes its way to his desk, the forked-tongue governor said, “It’s not my job to stand in […]
Welcome to Taxapalooza ’09
“Legislative Democrats are looking at a revenue-raising plan that spreads the pain across most of the state’s major tax sources,” reported Geoff Dornan, veteran capital reporter for the Nevada Appeal over the weekend, confirming rumors we reported here in News and Views a week ago.
Heidi and the Beanstalk
Las Vegas Sun reporter J. Patrick Coolican inked an opinion column yesterday which outlines the strategy and tactical advantages of the “no new taxes” position. GOP legislative leaders ought to read it. It’s not all that complicated of a concept, yet Republicans in Carson City seem completely unable to grasp it.
Before Stimulating New Jobs, First Do No Harm
National defense is not and should not be a “jobs program.” OK, with that out of the way, let’s talk about 95,000 national defense jobs.