SILVER STATE CONFIDENTIAL 01/23/2015

SANTA-VAL’S BILLION DOLLAR TAX HIKE So apparently Gov. Brian Sandoval (R&R-Advertising) is quite upset with the dozen or so conservatives in the Assembly who have essentially declared his billion dollar tax hike scheme DOA – dead on arrival.  He and his enablers – such as Assemblyman Chris “Let’s Make a Deal” Edwards (RINO-Clark) - are responding by challenging conservatives with the ol’, “If you have a better plan, let’s see it.” First of all, Sandoval didn’t run on a platform of raising taxes by over a billion dollars and dumping some $800 million of it into the bottomless pit known as public education.  Instead, he hid his plans from the voters and then sprung the whole deal on the state and the Legislature out of the blue. That was simply dishonest…unless the governor wants us to believe he only suddenly developed this “vision” for a “New Nevada” after the November elections. And if you believe that one, I have an oil field in my back yard I’d like to sell you! Secondly, I’d be THRILLED to take the governor up on his challenge.  Just give me the same access to the same taxpayer-funded budget and economic staff at the governor’s disposal – along with two cases of red pens – and I’ll be happy to come up with a responsible budget that funds only Nevada’s “essential” services without a tax hike. In fact, I’ll do it and come up with a tax CUT…including the elimination of the modified business tax. The governor and his too-cute-by-half political svengalis have already deceived Nevadans once by hiding their tax-and-spend scheme until after the ballots were counted.  We ain’t falling for the “where would you cut” gambit unless we’re provided the same tools the governor has at his disposal. Sandoval campaigned on a promise to kill the “sunsets” and not raise taxes.  It’s HIS job to present a budget that kills the sunsets and doesn’t raise taxes, not mine…or yours.  All we’re asking for is that the governor be a man of his word.  Is that too much to ask? In the meantime, it’s more than appropriate for those of us who would have to pay for Sandoval’s “new Nevada” “vision” to respond with a Stone Cold Steve Austin-like, “Hell, no!” RECALL FEVER: CATCH IT! A new recall PAC was formed and filed with the Secretary of State yesterday.  The lead director of the “Recall Silberkraus PAC” is former Clark County GOP Chairman Cindy Lake, who came within a whisker of winning a major upset in a county commission race this past November. And yes, I’ve gladly volunteered to serve as the official registered agent for the organization.  Just tryin' to help. Silberkraus, you may recall, was photographed handcuffed and detained by Metro in the GOP primary race last year for “stalking” his conservative opponent, Amy Groves.  He went on to win that primary anyway, primarily thanks to the incompetence of Groves’ campaign manager, the infamous Democrat-enabler Nathan Emens. Emens probably should have been sued for malpractice in that one. In any event, Silberkraus was then-Minority Leader Pat Hickey’s boy in that race and has been solidly in the camp of the tax-hiking moderates in the Republican Assembly Caucus since the November elections.  And even though he ran as a fiscal conservative – telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal that “Instead of always looking to raise taxes we must work on growing our economy…” – it’s widely understood and accepted that he is a dependable vote in favor of the governor’s billion dollar tax hike. Indeed, he hasn’t issued any statement opposing it, that’s for sure! Also, a meeting to form a possible recall PAC in Assembly District 19, currently being (mis)represented by Chris “Let’s Make a Deal” Edwards, is being held tomorrow morning in Mesquite.  Edwards continues to talk out of both sides of his mouth and has refused to respond to questions from constituents related to his position on Sandoval’s proposed billion dollar tax hike. And finally, a “Recall Hambrick PAC” organizational meeting/conference call is scheduled for 4:00 pm this afternoon.  If you have an interest in helping with this effort but haven’t responded yet, let me know ASAP so I can get you the call-in information. BTW, I understand the governor’s brain trust is telling these Assembly critters that this recall stuff isn’t serious and they have nothing to worry about.  I agree. They shouldn’t worry about a thing.  I mean, come on, why would anybody be upset with a state legislator who ran as a fiscal conservative supporting a billion dollar tax hike, right? Just ignore us, John, Stevie and Chris.  I’m sure the governor’s political gurus, who completely missed seeing the “red wave” coming last fall, are correct.  They’re geniuses.  We, the people, don’t have a prayer of recalling you.  You’re perfectly safe.  Sleep well. DRIVE-BY MUTHINGS The Las Vegas Review-Journal turned off its comment boards on its website this week, explaining that “Nowhere does the First Amendment require the media to provide a platform for your speech.”  The paper is exactly correct.  If you want to express your opinion, then start your own blog or e-newsletter.  But you have no right to use someone else’s soapbox. *   *   *   *   * Word on the street is that the Nevada gaming industry supports Gov. Brian Sandoval’s proposed gross receipts tax.  What’s not clear, however, is whether or not the gaming industry will be exempt from the new tax. Either way, if gaming is going to consistently attack other businesses with support for higher taxes then maybe it’s time to consider raising the gaming tax rate instead? *   *   *   *   * Conservative Assemblywoman Michele Fiore (R-Clark) has been rewarded for her willingness to speak truth to power and stand by her philosophical convictions by landing a weekly radio program on KDWN 720 AM in Las Vegas.  The show, “Walk the Talk with Michele Fiore,” will air on Saturday mornings from 7:00-8:00 am, with the first show scheduled for tomorrow morning. Break a leg, Assemblywoman! *   *   *   *   * Republican Las Vegas City Councilman Stavros Anthony announced on Tuesday that he will run for Mayor of Las Vegas against incumbent Mayor Carolyn Goodman in April.  Anthony’s main platform issue will be the proposed taxpayer-subsidized soccer stadium being promoted by Goodman and opposed by what appears to be all but 23 citizens of Las Vegas, half of whom are relatives of the mayor. Councilman Anthony stopped by our monthly center-right coalition meeting after making his announcement on Alan Stock’s KDWN 720 AM radio program.  I asked if there was any chance that he’d “pull a Hambrick” and change his opposition to the stadium deal after he got elected. His response: “Ohxi!”  It’s a Greek thing.  Loose translation: “Over my dead body, not in a million years.” *   *   *   *   * Speaking of stadiums, the heavily-subsidized – to the tune of some $30 million - baseball stadium in Reno has been open since 2009, but in all that time, the owners haven’t paid a dime of the taxes the city says they owe; estimated at some $2.7 million.  But we can trust the stadium developers for the Vegas soccer stadium, right? CITIZEN LOBBYIST SEMINAR You can make a BIG difference in this upcoming legislative session with only a couple minutes a day.  Learn how to fight Gov. Brian Sandoval’s billion dollar tax hike at a 90-minute workshop this Saturday morning in Las Vegas. “How to be an Effective Citizen Lobbyist” will be conducted by veteran citizen lobbyist and conservative activist Janine Hansen at the Las Vegas Library at 833 Las Vegas Blvd., just north of downtown, across the street from Cashman Field. The program is being cosponsored by Citizen Outreach and other conservative organizations. Registration begins at 10:00 am.  The program will run from 10:30 am until noon.  A $10 donation will be collected to cover the cost of handout materials and other expenses.  For more information, please visit www.ccnviap.org/seminar.shtml. FAMOUS LAST WORDS "Raising taxes is what politicians do when they don’t have the strength to actually govern.” – Grover Norquist, president, Americans for Tax Reform HOW TO SUBSCRIBE Silver State Confidential is an email newsletter on Nevada politics, public policy and current events published (usually) daily by Chuck Muth, Nevada's #1 Renegade Conservative and the man voted "Most Likely to Irritate Liberals!"  Click on the link below for subscription information…