JOHN ENSIGN, OVER AND OUT
As of today, John Ensign is no longer a United States senator. Better late than never.
For other short, pithy “drive-by Muthings” on Nevada’s political highway, click here
ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS DANCIN’ WITH THEMSELVES
If there is a more pathetic political group in Nevada than Assembly Republicans, I’d love to hear about them.
While their fellow Republican governor and GOP colleagues in the state Senate have united in taking tax hikes off the table for the duration of this legislative session – including any extension of the $650 million worth of “sunsetted” tax hikes due to expire in June – Assembly Republicans decided to pre-emptively prostitute themselves to the Democrats.
A few weeks ago, Minority Leader Pete Goicoechea offered to go along with extending the sunsetted tax hikes if Democrats would meet five impossible legislative demands. No one ever thought the Democrats would go along, and they didn’t. Indeed, the “offer” was so ridiculous that the Democrats didn’t even bother to respond, let alone extend a counter-offer.
And when the deadline came two weeks ago for bills to move forward or not, Democrats killed every one of the Republicans’ demands.
So, naturally Assembly Republicans finally came around and are now backing the governor’s no-new-taxes budget 100%, right?
Wrong.
Instead, Goicoechea is urging his caucus to water down their list of demands, hoping that maybe, just maybe, the Democrats will work with them to extend the sunsetted tax hikes. In other words, not only are they continuing to prostitute themselves, but they’re offering a discount!
These sad sacks are, literally, negotiating with themselves. AND LOSING!
Only four Assembly Republicans – Hambrick, McArthur, Livermore and Goedhart – have officially and publicly taken tax hikes off the table. The other dozen continue to let their leadership make them look like complete boobs.
But we’re coming soon – if we’re not there already – to the point where we can no longer blame just Goicoechea and have to blame the caucus members who are unwilling to stand up to their incompetent leadership. Yesterday’s new numbers from the Economic Forum may be their last chance to get with the program and save a little face.
I give the odds of them taking the opportunity at just barely over zero percent. You can’t fix stupid.
THE BIN LADEN BUMP
Hate to rain on the president’s parade, but the notion that plugging OBL in the skull will result in “the same sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11” ain’t happenin’. Americans come together for extended periods of time in response to tragedy, but celebrations rarely last as long. OBL’s dead. Mission accomplished. What’s on TV tonight?
And finally getting his man also presents all new problems for Obama.
Now that he’s gotten the “real killer,” what’s left? With OBL out of the picture, how long with the American people, especially his anti-war leftist base, continue supporting getting U.S. troops blown up by roadside bombs in the land of barbarians? How long before the left, and the middle, and even many on the right, start demanding the president turn those Afghan guns into butter back home for the unemployed and such.
Obama will deservedly enjoy his “bin Laden bump” in the polls for a few more days, but that’s probably about it. Enjoy it while you can, Mr. President.
BAD BUDGET MATH
The Associated Press reported on Monday that legislators are debating “how to plug a possible $2.5 billion shortfall in the state's $5.8 billion spending plan.” But this simply is NOT TRUE. For the life of me I don’t understand how the press keeps getting this wrong.
Nevada’s government is currently operating on a GENERAL FUND budget of about $6.4 billion. Gov. Brian Sandoval has proposed a GENERAL FUND budget for the next biennium of $5.8 billion. That means there is a $600 million overspending deficit between what we’re currently spending in the GENERAL FUND and what the governor proposes to spend in the GENERAL FUND.
To get to an alleged “$2.5 billion shortfall” you have to do one of two things.
One, instead of talking about the GENERAL FUND budget, you instead talk about the ENTIRE budget, including transportation, etc. The “super fund” budget is actually around $17 billion, not $5.8 billion. If this is what the AP is talking about, then they are comparing $2.5 billion apples to $5.8 billion oranges.
The only other way to get to a “$2.5 billion shortfall” is to take the roughly $6.8 billion general fund budget originally approved by the 2009 Legislature, before it was reduced in subsequent special sessions, then add some $1.5 billion in desired new general fund spending, and then subtract the governor’s proposed general fund budget from that “wish book” budget.
You simply cannot ask for a $1.5 billion raise, be told no, and then claim you’ve been cut by $1.5 billion when you’re actually right where you started from unless you’re using public school math.
If the left and the media wants to claim there’s a $2.5 billion budget hole, then the least they should do is explain to the taxpayers and citizens of Nevada how they came to that figure, because to claim there’s a $2.5 billion shortfall in the GENERAL FUND budget is simply false.
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FIRST FRIDAY HAPPY HOUR
May’s First Friday Happy Hour in will feature Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain as our VIP guest, along with special guest Grover Norquist or Americans for Tax Reform. Friday, May 6 at Stoney’s in 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
“They started City Center on all debt alone. It was luck they bumped into those guys from Dubai. They gave them $5.4 billion. It’s gone. How could you lose $5.4 billion here? You’ve got to be an imbecile or a moron.” – Gaming executive Steve Wynn, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 5/1/11
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