SILVER STATE CONFIDENTIAL 04/03/2015

SHOOTING DOWN ELK TAX ARGUMENTS There’s some continued confusion among some Republicans over AB78 – the Elk Tax.  Some are under the impression that the additional tax on elk hunting tags will only be paid by those who actually win an elk tag.  Not so.  According to the actual wording of the law as passed in the Assembly, the tax will be added to every APPLICATION to receive an elk tag.  So even the thousands of unlucky hunters who don’t win an elk tag get to pay this new tax if passed by the Senate and signed by the governor. And again, this is a TAX, not a user fee.  A tax is defined as “a compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on workers' income and business profits or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions.”  The additional cost in applying for a government-issued hunting tag is, no matter how some Republicans are trying to rationalize it otherwise, a tax hike. RINO WATCH AB190 would bring some desperately-needed reform to Nevada public employees’ retirement program.  And while I have considerable problems with Assemblyman Randy “Kirner Tax” Kirner (R-Kirner Tax) on the tax issue, he’s been a mensch on PERS reform and pretty much THE expert on the issue in Carson City. AB190 is his bill.  It is co-sponsored by a number of conservatives, such Assemblypersons Jim Wheeler, Jill Dickman, John Ellison and Ira Hansen.  But liberal freshman Republican Assemblyman Stephen Silberkraus advised a constituent this week that “I will be voting against it.”  As will every Democrat.  Birds of a liberal feather… Meanwhile, the liberal Republican appointed by the seven Democrats on the Clark County Commission to replace former conservative Republican Assemblyman Wes Duncan has been yanked off the Government Affairs Committee where AB190 is being heard, and shipped off to the Judiciary Committee. It’s generally suspected that Assemblyman Glenn Trowbridge’s appointment came only after promising that he would oppose any efforts to reform the PERS system.  On the Government Affairs Committee he was a “swing” vote.  If/when he voted with the Democrats, he could kill any such legislation before it even had a chance to get a floor vote. Trowbridge was replaced by conservative Assemblyman Jim Wheeler, but what passes for GOP Assembly “leaders” say the move had nothing to do with Trowbridge’s penchant for voting with Democrats.  But as we all have learned, painfully, in recent months, Assembly GOP “leaders” aren’t exactly known for telling the truth. Speaking of which… RALSTON RANTS Jon Ralston, Nevada’s #2 liberal blogger-with-an-unwatched-taxpayer-subsidized-TV-show, published on his blog on Thursday a column about Sen. Harry Reid that he claims Las Vegas Sun publisher Brian Greenspun “spiked” over two years ago. If what Ralston claims is true, the natural question is why he waited so long to publish the column himself on his blog.  Something smells fishy here. I mean, it might be different if Ralston’s integrity was never in question.  But that sure ain’t the case.  So you have to wonder why Ralston himself spiked his own column after Greenspun allegedly did.  Odds of ever getting a straight answer to this question from Jonny Boy?  About the same as UNLV winning the National Championship next year. DRIVE-BY MUTHINGS Senate Majority Leader Tax Hike Mike Roberson (RINO-Clark) will need Democrat votes to get the 2/3-super majority to pass Gov. Brian SandRINOval’s Gross Receipts BLT.  But I’m hearing the votes aren’t there because Tax Hike Mike refuses to essentially put the revenue in a “lock box” so that it can only be (mis)spent on education. *   *   *   *   * More of Assembly Speaker-of-the-Weak John Hambrick’s anti-conservative chickens are coming home to roost.  Conservatives, clearly, want to pass a voter ID bill.  Liberal Republican Gov. Brian SandRINOval does not want to see such a bill reach his desk.  So it appears what passes for “leadership” in the Assembly has moved the voter ID bill to the Ways & Means Committee where liberal Republican Majority Leader Paul Anderson – who Hambrick appointed as Majority Leader after canning Assemblywoman Michele Fiore from the position - can kill it by simply refusing to even bring it up for a vote. *   *   *   *   * Heard it through the Grapevine: Ass. Chris “Let’s Make a Deal” Edwards has reportedly fired his Carson City attaché (office manager).  The attachés are hired and managed by the Legislative Counsel Bureau (LCB), but Edwards, I’m told, demanded the ouster.   Scuttlebutt is that the brouhaha has something to with the Bundy family visit this week.  Regardless, controversy continues to swirl around the carpet-bagging freshman. *   *   *   *   * SJR21 urges Congress “to enact comprehensive immigration reform” including “a clear path to citizenship” for illegal immigrants.  I’m all for comprehensive immigration reform, including a way to allow some of those who have lived in the U.S. illegally for a number of years to remain her legally.  But rewarding them with citizenship?  Too big of a pill for too many legal citizens to swallow. NEVADA NEWS & VIEWS Amendment to require super-majority to raise taxes needs a little fix – Mitchell No new or increased Taxes needed in State Budget – Knecht Sandoval should get down on his knees to thank Knecht for Alt Budget - Weinberg Which tax is right for the Silver State? – Clark Calling All Citizens to Ax the Tax Now! – Muth Court papers show legislative extortion probe includes alleged wiretap, false political finance reports – LVRJ Case appealed to U.S. Supreme Court shows how if we lose One Right, we can lose them All – Institute for Justice Not only will Reid not be missed, he won’t be remembered for long – Weinberg Perhaps AB408 would get the federal government’s attention – Mitchell Don’t miss out on NPRI’s $2,500 college scholarship! - Lovell The Civil War’s Legacy – Breach Advertising NOW AVAILABLE!  Click here for additional information. FAMOUS LAST WORDS “Raising taxes is a sign of incompetence in a politician. He/she cannot manage. A willingness to raise taxes is telegraphing such failure.” – 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…