Indulge yourself on May 28th?

Senator John Sidney McCain III (R-AZ, when he cares to show up in the Senate) will be in Reno, Nevada on Wednesday May 28th. Senator McCain has said 'most' troops will be out of Iraq by 2013 - meaning, of course, that SOME won't be (otherwise known as a permanent occupation?) Locals may express their dismay at the Republican candidate's position in support of the Bush Administration's occupation of Iraq, his lack of support for the New GI Bill (which passed anyway with a veto proof majority), and his health plan that wouldn't cover himself if he had to function under its terms.

Specifics:
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
outside and across from the Eldorado at the corner of 4th and Sierra Street.
Reno, Nevada

Angle's Tax Cap Gun Misfires

Once more Nevada's intrepid Governor goes where none other dares (No, not to Iraq...) suggesting a special session of the Legislature to rescind salary increases for state employees and public school teachers; evidently forgetting that there are contracts involved such as the one between CCCTA and the Clark County School District. Superintendent Walt Rulffes reminds the Guv in today's LVRJ.

Oops, continual candidate and graduate of Our Lady of Perpetual Petitions, Sharron Angle (R-Club for Growth) didn't get the latest property tax cap signatures to Clark County officials until 5:20 p.m. That would be a full 20 minutes too late; and some of the items submitted were photo-copies and not the requisite originals. No signatures, no petition, no petition in Clark County...no tax cap initiative. Signatures are required in all 17 counties. [LVRJ] Angle's decision to run against "not-conservative-enough" state Senator Bill Raggio has apparently put some zip in the elder solon. [INP]

"Agencies support Carson Range fire plan" [RGJ]
"Big margins in primary wins settle nothing for state Dems" [RGI]

Keep Yucca Nuke Free

A meeting/rally to Keep Yucca Mountain Nuke Free will be held Tuesday, May 27th at the Clark County Amphitheater, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada, at 11:00 a.m. The public and media are invited.

Nevada News and Wise Cracks

The Nevada state Democratic Party Convention might have had some bumps along the way, but at least they managed to have one. The Republicans are still trying to figure out a date to hold their do-over. [LVRJ] Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) is now within 64 delegates of the Democratic Magic Number and J. Patrick Coolican reports "Nevada again will be presidential battleground, pundits say" [LV Sun] A note of caution for the McCain camp: Nevada probably isn't the state in which to tout knowledge of Native American issues, because too many Native Americans here know too many Native Americans in the Navajo Nation many of whom aren't one bit pleased with the land deals supported by Senator McCain in the past. Additionally, most are not the least bit reticent about expressing their displeasure with McCain's past performances. Black Mesa may not be the sort of item McCain wants to have emerge from the murky depths. Nor would the Navajo-Hopi settlement be something to resurrect from McCain's perspective. [Indianz]

Assemblywoman Frances Allen (R-LV) has been charged with domestic violence in an incident in which her husband took a stab in the forearm from her steak knife. The Mug Shot photo could make Olbermann's Collection? [LVRJ] Who knew three terms in the Assembly could cause such stress? Or were they discussing the upcoming state GOP convention? Seriously, domestic violence isn't to be taken lightly, and here's a note of congratulations to the Las Vegas authorities for treating this with the gravity the situation deserved.

From the department of no surprises: Sheldon "Freedom's Watch" Adelson and the financial power of Sands Inc. is opposed to the compromise reached by the Nevada State Teachers Association and several other major casino resorts over the room tax/gaming tax initiative. [LVRJ] The opposition from Adelson and the Boyd operations will be all the political cover state Senator Bill Raggio and Governor Jim Gibbons need for their opposition to increasing funding because "there's no unified agreement among the casinos." Ralston sums it up: "I’d be more outraged that Steve Wynn is making tax policy if someone who had been elected actually were making tax policy."

When does going to Iraq sound like a good idea? When your wife won't move out of the governor's mansion and there are ticklish negotiations going on over tax and state budget issues? "Governor goes to Iraq, meets troops." [LVRJ] The problem isn't that the Governor is meeting with the men and women from Nevada who are serving the country; it's just that the timing of this particular visit looks extremely suspicious? Perhaps we should wish that the men and women serving in the National Guard could come home as soon as possible, and that the Governor could just keep traveling? Perhaps he could exceed the amount of time allowed by statute for the governor to be out of state?

Great, just as school districts are trying to recruit teachers to fill vacancies, and we've noted that state workers (as exemplified by those trying to keep up with the publication of legislative and commission information) are attempting to do more with less -- the Governor opines that he is considering calling a special session of the legislature to repeal a portion of the 4% cost of living raise for state workers, university employees, and teachers. [LVRJ]
In short, the Governor would like to have the Legislature bail out his boat? From some dark recess back in 2006 I recall that this was the Governor who was going to efficiently run the state, cut out waste-fraud-abuse, and maintain the state government without raising taxes. OK, Governor -- make good on your campaign promises!
Oh, he can't because the economy went south?
Uh, isn't that the sort of thing that chief executives are hired to administer; elected because they supposedly know how to adequately plan for contingencies?

Meanwhile back at the Capitol - the state money committees will have an opportunity to take a look at the current gubernatorial proposals for cutting state spending, after the AG told the Governor he had to consult them. [LVRJ]

However much other elements of our existence may change, one thing remains rock solid (as in congealed) -- Sharron Angle (R-Club For Growth) heretofore known as the Summa Cum Laud graduate of Our Lady of Perpetual Petitions, is filing her latest initiative. [RGJ]

NV Legislature: The Money and the Minutes

Here's a vote of thanks to all those staff members in the Nevada Legislature who work to put meeting agendas, minutes, and reports online for public access; and, a recommendation that if the public really wants to know what is going on then the public might have to pony up additional resources.

A case in point: Legislative branch employees have the agendas posted for all Interim Finance Committee meetings with the obvious exception of the next scheduled session on June 26, 2008 for which the agenda isn't yet available. However, there is a backlog on the minutes posted. Minutes are available for the September 2007 meeting, the one in November, and the January, 2008 meeting. Minutes aren't yet available for the March and April 2008 meetings.

The Legislative Commission has minutes available online through last January, but those for the April 16th meeting aren't yet posted.

This seems a relevant issue at the moment because there are several upcoming meetings in which items of interest to Nevada citizens will be on the agendas, and without enough staff to post minutes and reports online, newspaper coverage will be the only readily available information. This is not to argue that reporters covering Carson City haven't been doing yeoman's service, but they can't be expected to cover every topic in every session of every commission in the detail stakeholders in various issues would like.

Some Nevadans will want specific information on the May 22, 2008 meeting of the Legislative Committee on Education (agenda) which will hear reports on establishing a uniform grading system for public high schools, the duties of school counselors, implementing four year academic plans for high school freshmen, prescribed courses of study for promotion to high school, academic probation policies, the results of the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior report, middle school reforms, and high school reform proposals.

A June 2, 2008 meeting of the Legislature's committee on Mortgage Lending and Housing Issues should certainly draw some attention. Again, their minutes are available through January 2008, but not yet available from the April, 2008 meeting.

Nevadans from rural areas will certainly be interested in the Legislative Committee on Public Lands meeting on June 6, 2008. Minutes for the April and May meetings are not yet available on the committee's website.

The Legislative Committee to Oversee the Western Regional Water Commission will meet on June 9. in Sparks, and the Advisory Commission on the Administration of Justice will be meeting on the same day in Carson City.

A quick trip to the "Scheduler" page should provide ample evidence that there is a fairly constant stream of meetings including topics that range from education for small children to issues of interest to senior citizens. Everyone would, no doubt, like more information more quickly, about an increasing number of subjects - however, those agendas, minutes, and reports don't transform their formats into PDF documents and fly up on computer screens by themselves. Some state employees are obviously working very hard to put as much information as they can online for the benefit of the people who have vested interests as citizens in receiving it. It looks like they could use a little help.

Those who decry "bureaucrat's salaries, and bloated government" would do well to remember that all too often "No New Taxes" translates into No New Information.

47,873 Nevadans Heller Doesn't Care About

There are now approximately 47,873 Nevadans who have exhausted their 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits according to Americans United For Change. {e-mail presser} When Representative Dean Heller (R-NV2) voted against the Iraq-Afghanistan Supplemental bill provisions last week, he was in essence saying that 13 extra weeks of assistance for Nevadans still trying to find jobs in a weakening economy was less important than sparing those reporting $1 million in taxable income a 0.047% tax increase.

Spokesperson for Americans United for Change, Jeremy Funk, set forth his organization's perspective:

“But Dean Heller thinks that more Bush tax cuts for millionaires is the only prescription for the ailing economy – tax cuts that never manage to ‘trickle-down’ to the people who really need it,” added Funk. “But, in fact, extending unemployment benefits is one of the most cost-effective and fastest-acting ways to help stimulate an economic recovery because the money is spent quickly; every $1 spent generates $1.73 in new economic demand, according to the Congressional Budget Office. How many more Nevada workers have to lose their jobs before Congressman Heller realizes that the Bush-McCain ‘trickle-down,’ ‘Voo-doo’ economic policies never fail to fail? It’s time he gets his priorities straight, stops contributing to Bush’s failed economic legacy, and instead supports serious solutions for stimulating this worsening economy.”

NV Assembly District 32 Republican Run-Fest

If the candidate filing list for Nevada Assembly District 32 race had gotten much longer before the deadline it might have started looking like the entrants’ roster for the Boston Marathon. As it stands, Republicans Glenn Dawson, Don Gustavson, incumbent John Marvel, Wayland Nance, Eric Smith, and Michael Weber are all on the SoS list, with no withdrawals. Democrats Marc Deal and Pete Cox have entered the fray, as has Independent American Party candidate James Krohus.

GOP candidate Nance’s web page stresses ‘local control’ over just about everything, including some items currently under state and federal jurisdiction – grazing, water rights, land use, mining and industrial development. Dawson wants to repeal the Patriot Act (something the state legislature may have some difficulty accomplishing) and stop the enforcement of national ID cards (something the legislature has addressed). His stance on education is a vague “parents should be allowed (and supported in) the choices they make concerning their children’s education.” The conclusion might be easily drawn that he means he supports vouchers. Nance is in favor of eradicating cheat grass, a presumption for joint child custody, and guns.

The only other Republican web page up and running lists Weber’s emphasis on no-taxes (“The tax system must not punish success nor reward failure.”) This statement may imply that Weber believes poor people are stuck below the poverty line because of their own weaknesses or lack of industry.

Gustavson is best known as a “side-kick” of Sharron Angle, Nevada’s summa cum laud graduate of Our Lady of Perpetual Petitions.