REPUBLICANS WHO (ARE ABOUT TO) VOTE BADLY
Before Republican legislators in the Assembly vote on the 2011 budget deal, probably later today, those who were in the Legislature for the 2009 session ought to do some serious soul-searching before they end up with a Kerry-like record on tax hikes; being against the sunsets before they were for them.
Fourteen of the fifteen Republicans in the Assembly in 2009 voted AGAINST the tax-hike package which is scheduled to expire at the end of the month – the lone exception being John Carpenter who apparently had a burning bush outside Carlin tell him to vote for higher taxes. So at least he had a good excuse.
Of the 14 Assembly Republicans who voted against the $600 million worth of tax hikes in 2009, ten of them are still serving in the Legislature: Ed Goedhart, Pete Goichochea, Tom Grady, John Hambrick, Richard McArthur, Joe Hardy (now in the Senate), James Settelmeyer (now in the Senate), Don Gustavson (now in the Senate), Lynn Stewart and MelissaWoodbury.
Of the three in the Senate, Gustavson and Settelmeyer are definite “no’s” on the budget deal; Hardy, thanks to the Boulder City “Bypass Buy-Off,” is a definitely “yes.”
And of seven of the ten still serving in the Assembly, only Goedhart, McArthur and Hambrick have committed to staying consistent and voting “no” on the sunset extension. Goichoechea is clearly a flip-flopper who will vote for the tax hike he voted against just two years ago.
But what of the other three? Will Stewart, Woodbury and Grady similarly hop on the deck and flop like a fish? Will they go on record as being against the tax hikes before they were for them? Probably.
But if they thought it was the wrong thing to raise taxes in the midst of a serious economic recession in 2009, how can they now suddenly think it’s the right thing to do? How can these three possibly justify such a vote?
They can’t, so let’s hope they don’t.
Here’s how the budget vote SHOULD go down in the Assembly over the deal that has been struck: Since they didn’t get the reforms they demanded for a vote extending the sunsets, the Republican leaders – Goicoechea and Stewart – should fall on their swords and give the 26 Democrats the two GOP votes they need to reach the 2/3 super-majority they need to extend the sunsets.
If Speaker John Oceguera can’t deliver all 26 members of his caucus, that’s his problem. No way, no how, should Republicans give the Democrats - who have treated them and their bills like an ugly stepsister this entire session - more than two votes.
Alas, here’s how I see the vote as we stand today:
DEFINITELY FOR: Goicoechea, Stewart, Grady
DEFINITELY AGAINST: Goedhart, Hambrick, McArthur and Livermore
LEANING AGAINST: Hansen, Hardy (Cresent, not Joe),
LEANING FOR: Kite, Kirner, Woodbury
UNDECIDED: Hammond, Ellison, Hickey
IRRELEVANT: Sherwood
For Republicans, the question isn’t whether or not the Democrats and Gov. Sandoval will get the two votes they need to pass the sunset extension. They will. The gut-check question is whether or not the majority of the caucus will vote to raise taxes on Nevada’s businesses and families or vote against raising taxes on Nevada’s businesses and families.
And yes, no matter how hard some are trying to spin this, the extension of the tax hikes is a tax hike. The 2009 tax hikes will expire at midnight, June 30, just as was promised to Nevada’s citizens. At that point, Nevada’s families and businesses will see their taxes go down some $600 million. At 12:01 am on July 1st, however, taxes will go back up again some $600 million. It’s a tax hike, it’s a tax hike, it’s a tax hike.
Anyway, as embarrassingly as Assembly Republicans have acquitted themselves this session, this final vote on the single most important bill will be an opportunity to save a little face and retain at least some semblance of an election issue for the next cycle. Will they take the opportunity being handed them…or will they once again blow it?
Tune in next time for, “As the GOP Turns.”
BRUNCH AT THE BOOTLEGGER BISTRO
The Bootlegger Bistro, owned by our friend and former lieutenant governor, is featuring a new Sunday Brunch June 5th, June 19 and July 3rd - with entertainment and dancing. A fun event with great food at a moderate price. $15.95 includes a mimosa, champagne or fruit juice, an entrée, dessert, coffee or tea. For more information, click here
CULLING RINOS FROM THE GOP HERD
The politics of fear. For years Republicans have been scared to death of Big Labor, Big Gaming and Big RINOs. As such, they voted badly, often casting their lot with Democrats in hopes of avoiding being targeted for defeat in future elections. Well, now they have something else to think about.
According to Fred Lokken - a taxpayer funded political science professor at taxpayer subsidized Truckee Meadows College who, to the best of my knowledge, has never been involved in real-life, street-level politics - Republicans in the Legislature who opt to stick with their principles (for those who have any) and vote against the tax-hiking budget deal are spoiled brats.
“It's like they are the kid who loses one of his marbles so goes home sulking," Lokken told Ed Vogel of the Las Vegas Review-Journal in a story published on Saturday. "There is this notion you have to get everything or you lose. The governor recognized you have to change to changing circumstances. But there is a culture of fear in the party. They are afraid Chuck Muth will defeat them at the polls."
Actually, Fred gives me way too much credit. I can’t defeat wishy-washy Republicans at the polls. All I can do is point out a Republican legislator’s voting record and let the Republican voters make up their own minds. “I may not be successful” in persuading a majority to kick a bad Republican out of office, I told Mr. Vogel in the same story, “but I can make their lives miserable."
Some folks are calling that a threat. I call it exercising my right to participate in the democratic process by encouraging like-minded fellow citizens to toss out elected officials who don’t vote the way we want based upon our philosophical beliefs as to the proper role of government.
2011 CLC & PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE!
This year’s Conservative Leadership Conference is one you do not want to miss. It will feature a GOP Presidential Debate along with top conservative/libertarian activists, donors, candidates and elected officials. CLC 2011 will take place this July 9th and 10th at the M Resort in Las Vegas.
Conference-only passes: Only $79 through July 1st ($99 after July 1st). VIP Passes include Conference, Awards Luncheon and Presidential Debate: Only $199.00 through July 1st($249.00 after July 1st). Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information contact Felecia Dorchuck at (702) 656-1577.
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO MUTH’S TRUTHS
If you or someone you know wishes to subscribe and receive Muth’s Truths delivered directly via email, please click here to sign up.
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 otherwise make it here in Muth’s Truths.
· @SoNevBenS "Late breaking bill in #nvleg adds Sen. Hardy's Boulder City toll road demo project." / Ah, the 30 pieces of silver, as promised.
· Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt think the public education system is so bad they are opting for home schooling! True dat. http://bit.ly/iLXk3Y
· Tom Mitchell on budget deal: "A steaming crock of pusillanimous puke." The again, he might have been sugarcoating it. http://bit.ly/mP2diz
Click here: http://twitter.com/ChuckMuth
FAMOUS LAST WORDS
“Anthony Weiner said he didn't recognize himself or his shorts in that photo. Must have been a helluva party.” –
No comments:
Post a Comment