MUTH'S TRUTHS 01/16/2013

OPEN LETTER TO NEVADA GOV. BRIAN SANDOVAL

The following coalition letter was faxed to the Governor’s office this morning in advance of his State of the State address tomorrow evening.  You can click here to download a copy of the actual letter.
 

Dear Gov. Sandoval,

As you complete work on the upcoming budget in advance of the 2013 legislative session, we write to express concern over your stated intent to seek a second extension of the “temporary” tax increases that were passed in 2009 over the objection of your predessor, Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons.

We firmly and unalterably believe now is the time to allow those tax hikes to sunset, as promised to the taxpayers of Nevada at the time, before the Legislature succeeds in making them permanent.

We also wish to remind you of the official Nevada Republican Party platform position on the issue of tax increases, as passed unanimously by Republican delegates to the GOP state convention last spring:
 

“We strongly support those in public office who resist higher taxes and fees, and seek to reduce the size, cost and scope of government at all levels. We believe the residents of the State of Nevada are not under-taxed and that state government is not under-funded, and our current budget crisis is the result of years of overspending. We oppose raising taxes or fees of any kind to fund the current budget shortfall.”

We also note that the official Republican Party national platform adopted in Tampa, Florida this summer states:
 

“Taxes, by their very nature reduce a citizen’s freedom.  Their proper role in a free society should be to fund services that are essential and authorized by the Constitution, such as…the care of those who cannot care for themselves.”

We believe the Nevada government continues to fund services that do not meet those criteria and/or provides essential services in a manner that unnecessarily increases their cost to taxpayers.  This includes public education at all levels, as well as public works projects whose costs are inflated above market level because of Nevada’s anti-free market “prevailing wage” law.

In fact, an analysis by economist Geoffrey Lawrence of the Nevada Policy Research Institute (NPRI) has “estimated that prevailing wage requirements cost Nevada taxpayers nearly $1 billion extra over 2009 and 2010.”

That is more than enough money to cover the complete and total elimination of the “sunsets.”

Gov. Sandoval, while we hold the deepest respect for you as the governor of our state, we nevertheless feel compelled to go on record as opposing any effort to extend the “temporary” tax increases which are scheduled to expire next summer, especially the increase in the “payroll tax” that even liberal former Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie admits is a “job killer” and “a disincentive to hiring.”

Instead, we urge you, as well as all state legislators, to embrace opportunities to reduce government spending and use any additional revenue – including revenue that may be generated by an economic recovery - to completely eliminate the Modified Business Tax, as well as the state business license fee, both of which are an impediment to job creation.

For ideas on such spending reduction alternatives, we suggest you and your administration seriously consider recommendations outlined in “Nevada's Freedom Budget 2009-2011” and “Solutions 2013” by NPRI, as well as numerous recommendations made by the Nevada SAGE Commission.

To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, Nevada’s budget problem isn’t because our families, businesses and tourists aren’t taxed enough, but because our government continues to spend too much.

As such, and on behalf of the thousands of Nevadans our organizations represent, we urge you to remain consistent with the Nevada Republican Party platform and construct a budget that reduces spending rather than extend those “temporary” tax increases.

Respectfully yours,
 

Cindy Lake
Chairwoman
Clark County Republican Party

James Smack
National Committeeman
Nevada Republican Party

John Wagner
President
Independent American Party

Brett Pojunis
National Committeeman
Libertarian Party

Phil Perine
President
Nevada Republican Men’s Club

Vicky Maltman
President
North Valleys Republican Women

Vicki Dooling
President
Las Vegas Valley Tea Party

Janine Hansen
President
Nevada Eagle Forum

Chuck Muth
President
Citizen Outreach

cc:  Senate Minority Leaders Michael Roberson
      Assembly Minority Leader Pat Hickey

IF YOU WANT NO LABELS, REMOVE YOUR LABEL

I am becoming increasing agitated by Republicans who seem to delight in poking their base of supporters in the eyes.  Indeed, our own Sen. Dean Heller is now a leading voice of a new movement called “No Labels.”

If certain Republicans want to bask in media adulation for rejecting their GOP party affiliation, then they should run as an independent – no party label.  Put their name on the ballot without that “R” next to their name and see how that works out.

Generally speaking, it’s not “no label” volunteers stuffing envelopes, making phone calls and walking door-to-door on behalf of Republican candidates.  It’s Republicans.  To keep shoving this “no labels” crap in their faces is insulting.

If you’re truly embarrassed to be a Republican, then don’t run as one.  Strip that party label “R” from after your name and at least be honest about it.  Otherwise, stop apologizing for being a Republican and start acting like a Republican.

NEVADA NEWSMAKERS

I had the pleasure of interviewing with Sam Shad and Paul Enos on Nevada Newsmakers yesterday.  If you missed it on the tube, you can catch it on my blog.  We talked about the Republican Party in Nevada, tax hikes, “Moderate Mike,” the budget, GOP primaries, gay marriage, immigration and more.

CLICK HERE

THE NEW GUBER POLL

Last chance to weigh in on our online 2014 gubernatorial poll.  As of this morning, incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval was barely leading an unnamed third-party candidate, 37-36 percent.

CLICK HERE

MOUNT REAGAN PROJECT UPDATE

Please sign our online petition supporting the establishment of an official “Mount Reagan” in Nevada…

CLICK HERE

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FAMOUS LAST WORDS

“FDA wants Ambien to halve dosage b/c concerned about drowsy driving. I'll ask obvious question: what's to stop people from taking 2?” – Fred Thompson tweet

“Obama now: pass the debt ceiling and we'll talk. In movies: bad guy says, ‘put down the gun and we'll talk.’ Then jumps the disarmed hero.” – Grover Norquist tweet

“Folks applauded Jodie Foster 4 coming out @ Golden Globes ---What would happen if actors said they accepted Jesus as Lord & Savior there?” – Conservative Brotha tweet