ATKINSON’S ALARMING ARROGANCE
If you truly want to understand the arrogance of legislative Democrats consider this little item from Assemblyman Kelvin Atkinson (D-Isle of Man).
Sen. Don Gustavson has introduced a bill to repeal Nevada’s nanny-state mandatory motorcycle helmet law in every session he’s been in at the state Assembly. This year he did so again, only as a member of the state Senate. And this year, his bill received a hearing and was passed out of Sen. Shirley Breeden’s Transportation Committee even though Sen. Breeden herself opposes the bill.
Which has little Kelvin’s tighty-whities in a bunch.
Atkinson, you see, opposes treating grown adults as, well, adults. As such, and as chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee last session, he killed Gustavson’s bill. And for the life of him, he can’t understand why Sen. Breeden didn’t kill the bill this year in her committee.
“How does a bill pass out of committee by one vote when the chair is opposed to it?” he asks with incredulity in a Las Vegas Sun story today. “I was a little alarmed by that.”
Alarmed? ALARMED?? Kelvin Atkinson is “alarmed” that a committee chair allowed a vote on a bill that a majority of her committee favored? That “alarms” him? Seems to me such an arrogant attitude by Mr. Atkinson is what should be alarming.
FOLLOW CHUCK ON TWITTER
If you’re not following me on Twitter, you’re missing out on a lot of great “stuff” that doesn’t make it here in Muth’s Truths. Click here: http://twitter.com/ChuckMuth
ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS WHO LOVE GOVERNMENT TOO MUCH
The Nevada state Assembly voted on Tuesday to expand the regulatory arm of government by requiring that mopeds be registered with the DMV, imposing a new registration “fee” (tax) on their owners, as well as require moped drivers and riders to wear full government-approved motorcycle helmets.
Republicans who voted to raise taxes and expand the nanny-state were: Pete Goicoechea, Tom Grady, John Hambrick, Scott Hammond, Cresent Hardy, Randy Kirner, Pete Livermore, Mark Sherwood, Lynn Stewart and Melissa Woodbury.
Good grief. And some people still wonder why I’m no longer a Republican?
LOOKING FOR A SPEAKER?
Want your organization to get the inside scoop on what will happen next in Nevada politics and public policy? Invite me to be your next speaker. Shoot me an emailto get rates and dates.
Upcoming Engagements
May 4: Las Vegas Valley Tea Party (Henderson, NV)
May 24: Southern Hills Republican Women (Henderson, NV)
July 9-10: Conservative Leadership Conference (Las Vegas, NV)
July 11: Pahrump Republican Women (Pahrump, NV)
SENATE REPUBLICANS WHO LOVE GOVERNMENT TOO MUCH
Over in the Nevada state Senate on Tuesday, three Republicans joined every Democrat in approving new government regulation – complete with a new $200 licensing tax (fee)! – of, get this, “Music Therapists.”
What the hell is a Music Therapist you ask?
Well, according to the American Music Therapy Association, music therapy “is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.”
Yeah, that sure cleared things up. Let’s try this from another angle: What do music therapists do? Again from the AMTA:
“Music therapists assess emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning, communication abilities, and cognitive skills through musical responses; design music sessions for individuals and groups based on client needs using music improvisation, receptive music listening, song writing, lyric discussion, music and imagery, music performance, and learning through music; participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning, ongoing evaluation, and follow up.”
In other words, it’s a load of crap. But hey, if somebody thinks they can cure Alzheimer’s by listening to Yanni music over and over and over again…who am I to argue? Live and let live, right? However, is this really something Nevada’s government now needs to license and regulate? I don’t think so.
Sidenote: And for all you Music Therapists right now sitting down to tap out an angry email telling me how I know nothing about music therapy and what wonderful things you do….forget it. By the time you read this I’ll be blasting Led Zeppelin music into my ears through my iPod while working out on the treadmill. That’s all the music therapy I need!
In any event, this is exactly why it is so hard to shrink government. Even in the worst stinking recession in our state’s history, some well-intentioned, busy-body nanny-state legislators think the government just has to do more, when what’s really called for these days is for the government to do LESS. MUCH less.
Oh, you wanna know who the Republicans were who voted with the Democrats to expand government and increase taxes (fees)? That would be Sens. Barbara Cegavske, Joe Hardy (naturally!), Ben Kieckhefer and Dean Rhoads.
BTW, whatever happened to that letter signed by all 10 Republican senators saying they backed Gov. Sandoval’s budget and wouldn’t be voting for any new taxes or fees? Or was there some fine print or weasel-wording in the letter that the average Nevada voter/taxpayer missed that, um, doesn’t appear in the Taxpayer Protection Pledge?
And some still wonder why I’m so adamant about getting candidates to sign the Pledge and never take their word for it? And, um, yes….Sen. Cegavske did sign the Pledge. So as you can see, nothing if fool-proof.
FIRST FRIDAY HAPPY HOUR
May’s First Friday Happy Hour in will feature Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain as our VIP guest. Friday, May 6 at Stoney’sin Las Vegas from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Free parking, no cover charge and 2-1 drinks. First Friday is co-sponsored by conservative talk-show host Alan Stock and and KXNT 100.5 FM/840 AM.
FAMOUS LAST WORDS
“Republicans: Dammit, Chuck, why don’t you stop picking on Republicans? Chuck: Dammit Republicans, why don’t you stop voting for bigger government and higher taxes?” – (OK, I made this one up; but I’m pretty sure it’s been said)
No comments:
Post a Comment