Archive for category Nevada
August Reno Hayek Meeting: Nevada Hurting
I am late in thanking Randy York for the excellent discussion of Nevada’s deficit difficulties. Randy as president of the NV Manufacturers Association well knows the gravity of the over spending over the last several years and the temptation to add new taxes so that it can continue. Those potential taxes whether corporate income, gross receipts or the so-called Texas franchise tax will further hobble Nevada businesses.
Randy got everyone’s attention with some recent economic headlines: gaming revenues down, A&E layoffs, land prices and real estate valuations plummet. The state leads the nation in unemployment; Lyon County’s rate is up at 18.5%. And predictions for job growth will be down for many years. With the $3.2 Billion deficit in mind the state’s budget director Andrew Clinger said you would have to cut everything but education (55% of the budget) to balance the budget.
The Democratic majority typically favors tax increases or new taxes to protect coveted programs and insure public sector jobs. Steven Horsford, the senate majority leader has proposed a 50-50 deal, $1.5 Billion in taxes and $1.5 Billion in cuts. Problem here is the lack of detail and the temporariness of cuts against the permanence of taxes. With over half the legislature being public employees, it is difficult to see how devastating tax increases will not come about. And, it is not as if those public employee salaries and benefits are cheap. Randy showed compensation charts that make NV look like Bell CA!
Simply put, more government, more spending and more taxes will drive businesses from NV and further tank the economy. The only way to guard against this is to elect conservative candidates who will block tax increases and insist on expense reductions and government efficiency.
Randy listed key Assembly and Senate races: Assembly: District and conservative candidate: 5th-Williams, 13th-Hammond, 21st-Sherwood, 22nd-Stewart, 23rd-Woodbury, 27th-Jurado, 29th-Hill, 31st-Thompson, and 40th-Livermore. Senate: 2nd-Gustavson, 5th-Roberson, and 8th-Cegavske.
There has been some sentiment in our membership for a more active role in addressing the issues we discuss. Indeed, our tag line for the Reno Hayek Symposium is: “Articulating conservative solutions to current issues & supporting their intelligent champions.” As Randy ably pointed out, now is the time to support conservative candidates. To that end, we will have special meet and greet candidate interviews between now and the November election. The object is to raise money and where feasible offer “boots on the ground” help to get these folks elected. We will have both email and web notices of upcoming opportunities.
I also want to thank John Dunn for his NV4CFE (Yucca) update, Tom Gurnee for his China business comments, and Jerry O’Driscoll for expanding his recent WSJ article on the balance sheet recession.
Finally Joe Morabito announced a key federal race fund-raiser for Dr. Joe Heck who is running against Dina Titus; this will be held at his home on September 24th. RSVP to Nicole at 702-614-5900 or nsarouphim@gmail.com.
Finally A Stimulus That Has Its Intended Effect
Posted by Tom in Deficit, Democrats, National Debt, Nevada, State Finances, Stimulus/Bailout, Unions on August 11, 2010
What is this latest $26 Billion stimulus, is it number 5 or 6? I’ve lost count. But this one you can bet will work effectively to accomplish its intended purpose…..to buy votes for Comrade Obama and his leftist cronies. It goes directly to the public employee unions, specifically the teachers. That increases union dues which in turn increases political donations. This stimulus rewards spendthrift states–takes from fiscally responsible states like Indiana and gives to bankrupt states like New York and California. Seems we find the most registered Democrats in those fiscally irresponsible states!
Today’s WSJ pens a great editorial on the subject, “Stimulus Pushers.” As the title suggests, Hussein Obama is the dope pusher further addicting these leftists spendthrifts with a high powered dose of bailout. The addicts don’t care about the hidden costs or the consequences; they just want the fix.
A few principled governors like Haley Barbour of Mississippi are pushing back. The federal government is hijacking state budgets. Rick Perry of Texas is in disfavor with the DC crowd so Texas gets penalized in the legislation. What’s astounding in this is the sheer hubris, the sheer abuse of power with the simple justification that the leftists have the power.
Two points are clear: One, this stimulus only postpones the day of reckoning for these bankrupt states. And, two, these parasites if left unchecked will eventually kill the host—the private sector that pays taxes will no longer be able to afford the excessive pay and benefits sucked up by the public sector. Atlas will indeed shrug!
For Nevadans, Reid must go, and the Pelosi’s democratic lackeys must be defeated. By piling up deficits and debt they are stealing from our children and grandchildren, the height of immorality!
Nevada-Just Fell Off the Turnip Truck
Nevada is the sucker state, the dummy state that gets conned by every one else. But it’s the Democrats and Harry Reid’s one of the worst, who promote the con artist and take advantage of the poor constituents in Nevada. Here are a few examples:
- Nevada is ranked at or near the botton of all states in federal spending in the state. For every one dollar in federal taxes sent to Washington, Nevada gets only 65 cents in federal spending. Thanks Harry, you’re doing a bang up job.
- Nevada has the highest unemployment rate in the nation at 13.7%, higher than Michigan the home of Government Motors! I guess Nevada taxpayers should be happy that Obama and Reid purchased a car company for them in Michigan.
- Of course, old Harry does his best to kill jobs in Nevada. Besides supporting the Community Organizer in Chief while the latter slams gaming in Las Vegas, Harry has done his best to kill Yucca Mountain along with all the storage, reprocessing, electrical production and research jobs that could bring new industry to this state. Way to go Reid.
- And this, as if the Nevada world isn’t upside down enough, Nevada Tops the List on Federal Lobbyist Spending, Near the Bottom On Returns, a Sean Whaley post showing how really stupid our politicians are. Seems that state agencies spent $1.7 million in taxpayer money last year and got virtually nothing for it. Nevada ranked number 7 of the 900 government entities lobbying in DC. Given the fact that your senior senator is doing nothing for you but killing jobs, an argument can be made for such gross extravagance.
The worst thing about Harry though is that he is stealing from my children and grandchildren, stealing their future by crushing them in unsustainable debt, Obamacare and Multi-Stimulus bills being prime examples. This is the height of inter-generational immorality.
Ya know, Harry has done more for Nebraska with the “Cornhusker Kickback” than he has for Nevada!
The sooner we rid ourselves of this pond scum, the better off we will be.
Sandoval Has All Guinn’s RINO Markings
I was unable to make Elizabeth Crum’s bloggers conference with Brian Sandoval, a Republican candidate for governor, the other day, but Chuck Muth presents a pretty good account of the pertinent points. As you would guess these reflect back to Guinn v. Legislature, the largest blight on constitutional government in Nevada and perhaps the US. It made our state the laughing stock in the WSJ editorial page. Then Brian didn’t believe in separation of powers; he like Guinn believed in tax and spend, in that case a gross receipts tax. Now I came to Nevada from Washington and can tell you how bad a gross receipts tax is. I fought it at that time and it did not come into being. But that’s not for the RINOS not trying.
Chuck Muth’s article points out that nothing has changed for Sandoval, he’s still a tax and spend RINO. He has been given several chances to repudiate the position, he refuses. He’s ambitious, young, charismatic and leans left. Remind you of anyone in Washington?
Chuck’s article, Beware of Sandovals in Conservative Clothing, is worth the read. Thanks again to Elizabeth Crum of Nevada News & Views.
Law is Meaningless for Liberals in Carson City and Washington
Posted by Tom in Centrally Managed Economy, Congress, Constitution, Democrats, Nationalized Health Care, Nevada, Statism on April 7, 2010
I just finished a Nevada News Bureau blogger’s news conference with the attorney representing Nevada pro bono contesting the constitutionality of Obamacare, since our Democratic AG, Cortez-Masto refuses to represent Nevadans. Mark Hutchinson is special counsel for the state by virtue of Governor Gibbons’ executive order appointing him. The AG has committed a statutory misdemeanor by refusing to act. The AG doesn’t seem to be concerned with law, at least a law that binds her. She will do or not do as she pleases.
This is emblematic of the liberal or progressive–as they want to be euphemistically called–mindset. This country, indeed, this state came into being as a government of laws as contrasted with a government of people. The left from Wilson’s time on has bridled at this restraint.
For Obama, Pelosi, Reid and the Democrats, the U.S. Constitution has no meaning. The 10th Amendment reserves to the states or the people all powers not specifically delegated to the federal government. There is no constitutional delegation of healthcare, so they argue authority from the commerce clause which gives congress the power to regulate interstate commerce. The courts have allowed a very broad interpretation of that power, but never have they treated a law that forces action on citizens by virtue of their citizenship. That is the individual mandate of Obamacare.
If the individual mandate of Obamacare is upheld, then the constitution is meaningless. Think of that the basic, fundamental supreme law, the foundation of our republic is meaningless. Substituted for law is the whim of the president or the majority party. A citizen can be forced to act, forced to spend money, on any manner of thing. Tree hugging liberals can force PV panel installation on your roof. Doctors can be forced to perform abortions. Adult children can be forced to euthanize their aged parents. There are literally no limits. Inactivity can be made illegal–as it is in Obamacare.
Now that is why these lawsuits contesting Obama’s power grab are so damn important. That is why 14 states are litigating and why 7 others are about to join them. The constitutional issue is paramount here. If Obama can assume the role of dictator, like his “mi amigo” Chavez, then this country is lost, our children will have no future.
My thanks to Elizabeth Crum for arranging these blogger conference calls and to the three other attorneys participating: Josh Hicks, former general counsel to the governor, Joel Hansen, the IAP candidate for AG, and Jacob Hafer, the GOP candidate for AG.
Constitutions are messy things for dictators. Obama and his liberal ilk know what’s best for the rest of us in the unwashed masses. They will do what they please as long as they are in power.
Odd Couple Plus One
Posted by Tom in Centrally Managed Economy, Congress, Deficit, Democrats, Government Regulation, Nationalized Health Care, Nevada, Politics, Statism on March 21, 2010
Today this May-December couple managed to pull off one of the largest scams ever foisted on the American public. It is the last critical step in government’s take over of the U.S. economy and perhaps the largest expansion of government ever, certainly in absolute terms. It creates a growing dependency which puts us on a clear path to European socialism.
It Should Be Easy
Let's Stay Close
The protracted process showed these masterful politicians’ lies, tricks, obfuscation and backroom dealmaking as some of the best or worst, depending on you point of view, in history.
But Harry's SLOW
That Puppet
Throughout the process the Pelosi-Obama relationship was key. It is truly amazing how close these two stayed. They called the shots and Reid did as he was told; in the process he took most of the credit for the one-off deals that mis-apportioned the taxpayers’ money.
Harry Dictating
We Won Together
It is hard to understate the damage done in terms of jobs lost, welfare recipients created, standards of living lowered, and national health damaged. With this statists victory the leftists ruling class has deeply damaged our nation and impoverished our grandchildren for generations to come.
A sad day for America.
Sig Rogich…Why Endorse Harry Reid?
Posted by Tom in Nationalized Health Care, Nevada, Politics, State Finances, Yucca Mountain on March 17, 2010
Sean Whaley of Nevada News Bureau reports extensively on Sig Rogich’s Nevada NewsMakers interview effusively touting Harry Reid for re-election. Rogich formerly the big Republican donor and Bush advisor is co-chairman of “Republicans for Reid.” Sig credits Harry for “building McCarran International Airport;” seems to me the marketplace for gaming may have had something to do with that! He then talks about water rights negotiations saying “who would you rather have at the table?” the answer is anyone other than Harry. He talks about what Harry has done for Nevada but can’t really come up with specifics; in reality Harry has done more for Nebraska with the “Cornhusker Kickback” than he has for Nevada. Finally and stupidly, he blasts Sue Lowden for her favorable position on Yucca noting that Reid opposes Yucca. Yeah Sig, Harry helps by keeping jobs and money out of the state and failing to exploit this opportunity for not only a repository, but also reprocessing, power generation and research all bringing high value jobs and money to Nevada. For reference, see NV4CFE.org.
Has Sig who once supported Reagan turned into a RINO? Possibly. Or has Sig simply lost his Icelandic guts and fears standing up to Reid perhaps because Harry, an early practitioner of Chicago politics, has threatened Sig’s clients and the threat carries? Maybe. Here’s another theory, has a deal been made? Sig endorsed Harry in early 2009, in June of that year Harry dropped his longtime support of the LA-Vegas maglev train and instead endorsed construction of a competing Victorville-Vegas rail project, Desert Xpress Enterprises. Surprise, Sig Rogich is a partner in, backer of and spokesman for Desert Xpress!
When you think of it, with the Cornhusker Kickback alone, Harry has taken Nevada taxpayers money and given it to Nebraska! He’s pushing job killer Obamacare through the Senate. Why would anyone want to support him. All toll, given the harm Harry’s done and is doing, we are better off without him. Only Sig Rogich can explain why he supports this embarrassment to Nevada.
Tom Motherway
Paleface Speak With Forked Tongue
Posted by Tom in Economics, Energy Facts & Policies, Government Regulation, Nevada, Yucca Mountain on March 11, 2010
Yep, Obama’s at it again, saying one thing and doing another. This time it’s An Energy Head Fake, as today’s WSJ calls it. The litany of State of the Union promises included “a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants” and “new offshore areas for oil and gas development.” Hooray! The guy is really serious about reducing our energy dependency.
NOT! Since that time Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, halted the plan for leasing the energy-rich Outer Continental Shelf. But this wasn’t a military command “halt,” it was more like death by a thousand cuts, including:
- extending the public comment period by six months,
- taking “several weeks” (which turned out to be five months) to analyze comments,
- informing Congress that he was scrapping the lease plan,
- informing Congress that leasing will not begin for another two years,
- failing to comply with the deadline for submitting a court-ordered EIR for new leases off the Alaskan coast, and
- rebuffing Virginia’s request to allow offshore drilling.
Onshore, Salazar is canceling oil and gas leases in Utah and Wyoming. He also plans to have Obama designate 10 million of acres of western lands as “monuments” under the Antiquities Act putting them off limits for mineral rights. Nevada is impacted in this effort.
On the nuclear front, Obama’s promised $8.3 billion loan guarantee for two nukes in Georgia while nice is meaningless in the absence of regulatory certainty according to Mike Morris, CEO of American Electric Power. And of course Obama continues his head fake by putting the kibosh on Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository.
Growth and attendant energy demand in China and India are all too certain. Continuation of our serious energy dependency is painfully assured. As long as we ignore real energy resources at our disposal and waste taxpayer money on subsidies for wind and solar we are endangering our economic future.
Unfortunately we are stuck with a president caught up in himself and his last “teleprompted” rhetoric. To put it kindly, “he doesn’t walk the talk.” I sometimes wonder if he listens to it at all!
Tom Motherway
Re-election Chances: Pelosi, No Sweat–Reid, “Angry-Mob Unpopular”
Posted by Tom in Democrats, Nationalized Health Care, Nevada, Politics on March 8, 2010
Saturday Night Live’s skit on Obamacare focused on the final push and how it jives with re-election chances. Quite funny: