ARTFUL DODGER GUV STRIKES AGAIN; TIME FOR LEAN 15 TO MOUNT UP!
Nevada Gov. Brian “Manchurian Candidate” Sandoval broke his word in the last legislative session and decided to extend some $600 million worth of “temporary” tax hikes passed in 2009 to balance his budget.
However, in early May of 2011 the Economic Forum had declared that there would be an additional $300 million to spend thanks to a slightly recovering economy. So what the governor should have done - if he was intent on breaking his word about raising taxes instead of cutting spending - was extend only $300 million of the “temporary” tax hikes and use the windfall from the Economic Forum to make up the other half of the deficit.
Instead, our Artful Dodger governor picked the entire $600 million worth of “temporary” tax hikes from our pockets AND spent the additional $300 million windfall!
Fast-forward to this year’s legislative session. The governor has already built his budget around extending that $600 million worth of “temporary” tax hikes yet again. And once again the Economic Forum has projected another windfall for the upcoming biennium; this one a more modest $44 million bonanza.
Soooo…
Did the governor reduce the amount of “temporary” tax hikes to be extended by $44 million to give Nevada taxpayers at least a little relief? Heck, no! Instead he released the following statement…
“…I will propose that the $44 million increase be directed to K-12 education, health and human services, economic development and the rainy day fund.”
That’s right. Your taxes are going to go back up on July 1st while the governor spends the additional revenue being generated by a barely recovering economy. And with that in mind, hop into the Wayback Machine with me for a minute…
Ten years ago - thanks to the Gibbons Tax Restraint Initiative, which requires a 2/3 super-majority vote for the Legislature to pass any tax hikes - 15 GOP legislators in the Assembly banded together and blocked then-Gov. Kenny Guinn’s proposed “Mother of All Tax Hikes” (until the Nevada Supreme Court intervened).
Those 15 Republicans became known as the “Lean 15” by conservatives and the “Mean 15” by liberals.
Guess what? There are 15 Republicans in the State Assembly this year!
Indeed, if today’s 15 Republicans were smart (cough!), they’d band together and refuse to vote for the governor’s budget and tax hikes unless (a) the $44 million windfall is used for tax relief and/or (b) serious changes are made to the Big Labor welfare program known as “prevailing wage,” which drives the cost of taxpayer-funded construction projects through the roof.
The 15 Republicans in the Assembly have an opportunity here to reconstitute the “Lean 15” and be both relevant and true champions of fiscal conservatism…if they don’t blow it.
We’re doomed.
Or are we this time?
Lemme just say this, Minority Leader Pat Hickey is no Attila the Hun conservative, but on the other hand, he’s no “Tax My Meat” Pete Goicoechea either. It’ll be interesting to see how he plays this.
FREE DRINKS (AGAIN) TOMORROW NIGHT!
John Burnett of Las Vegas Jewelry and Coin Buyers will once again be buying drinks for the first 100 people through the door at this week’s First Friday Happy Hour! We’ll be honoring legendary newly-inducted Hall of Fame UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian at this month’s First Friday Happy Hour. Also on hand will be author Wayne Allyn Root to sign copies of his new book. And our “Club of the Month” for May will be the Nevada Republican Men’s Club.
Friday, May 3 from 5-7 pm at Bahama Breeze in Las Vegas. Be there or be talked about!
URGE “MODERATE MIKE” TO GET IT OVER WITH AND CHANGE PARTIES
Last chance to add your name to the more than 200 who have already signed the letter going out next week to “Republican” State Sen. “Moderate Mike” Roberson asking him to embrace a little “truth in political labeling” by changing parties and re-registering as the Democrat he’s become. CLICK HERE
If you're not a Silver State Confidential subscriber,
here's some of what you missed yesterday...
here's some of what you missed yesterday...
- Former Assemblyman Mark “SureWould’s” lesbian obsession
- Fake liberal activist gets gullible college students to sign petition banning common kitchen appliance
- What an Oklahoma conservative, sequestration and Nevada sheep have in common
- Recession’s over! LV council members vote to protect millions of $$ in non-essential government spending
- Republican state senator proposes $500 fine that you have to pay even if you’re found innocent!
- Highly-touted, gov-subsidized project swimming in red ink?
- How gov’t found a way to make being broke cost money
- Plus, “Hot Links” galore!
Third Thursday Leadership Lunch
The next private, invitation-only, off-the-record Third Thursday Center-Right Leadership Lunch will be held this Thursday, May 16 at 11:45 a.m. If you are the leader of a conservative or libertarian or pro-business organization and would like to be invited to attend, please contact Chuck Muth at (702) 942-3291 or chuck@citizenoutreach.com
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