Friday, August 30, 2013

MUTH'S TRUTHS 08/30/2013

All the Governor’s Men

Wait.  Are you kidding me?

Anjeanette Damon of the Las Vegas Sun recently obtained emails showing that a troika of lobbyists/power-brokers overruled Gov. Brian Sandoval’s (R&R-Partners) senior staff on one of the governor’s numerous betrayals of his “no tax hikes” pledge.  This outrageous story shows that not only are Sandoval’s promises empty, so is his suit.

At issue is what has become known as the “More Cops” tax increase for Clark County.  Voters approved half the hike in 2004 when Nevada was still in times of plenty.  Indeed, recall that in 2005 tax revenues had come in so much higher than expected from the 2003 Mother of All Tax Hikes that then-Gov. Kenny Guinn actually issued tax rebates.

The deal in 2004 was that the second half of that tax hike had to be approved by the Legislature in 2013.  Clearly, economic circumstances have changed dramatically since 2004 and there’s no way on God’s green earth such a tax hike would have been approved today if it came before voters. 


And yet, Gov. Sandoval, despite his oft-repeated verbal assurances that he would oppose any and all efforts to increase taxes, ended up not only supporting this totally uncalled for tax hike, but ultimately called a special session of the Legislature to get it approved!

Over the objections, we now find out, of his chief-of-staff and chief policy advisor. 

Why?  Because two lobbyists – Pete Ernaut and Greg Ferraro - and a political apparatchik, Mike Slanker, overruled them, that’s why.  But don’t worry, it gets worse.

According to the story, the email exchange shows Ernaut argued in favor of the governor breaking his “no tax hikes” pledge because “the police union…was one of the only public employee unions to support the governor in his last election…”  In other words, a political payback.

Hang on. We still haven’t gotten to the punch-line yet.

“At the time,” Damon reports, “Sandoval’s senior staff did not know that Ernaut, president of government affairs at R&R Partners, was a paid lobbyist for the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, the labor association for rank-and-file police, which would benefit from more money to hire police officers.”

Holy lack of disclosure, Batman!  But there’s still more…

Reportedly the email exchange in question wasn’t really about whether or not Sandoval should or shouldn’t support the tax hike. Apparently the governor had already committed, unbeknownst to his staff, to break his word and back the increase. 

No, “Sandoval’s top campaign consultant Mike Slanker” was simply trying to figure out how to spin breaking the governor’s word to the press and the public.

Of R&R Partners, by R&R Partners, for R&R Partners.  It’s the Nevada Way.  And a shameful indictment of a governor who’s proven to be all sizzle and no steak.



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First Friday Happy Hour

Citizen Outreach and KDWN 720 AM will be hosting the next First Friday Happy Hour on Friday, September 6 from 5-7 pm.  The special VIP guest-of-honor will be Louisiana State Sen. Elbert Guillory (click here to watch video explaining his party switch from D to R last June).   $5 donation requested at the door.

NEW LOCATION!  Our First Friday Happy Hour celebration is moving this month to the Blue Martini in Town Square in Las Vegas.  Bahama Breeze was a great venue, but new management ordered us to ban all photographs, even with smart-phones, and required us to shove our folks out by 7:00 pm, even if they were still eating and drinking.

Let's just say that didn't make us very "happy."


Third Thursday Leadership Lunch

The next private, invitation-only, off-the-record Third Thursday Center-Right Leadership Lunch will be held on Thursday, September 19 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.  Also, Silver State Confidential subscribers are invited to attend this private meeting.

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