Ban Lobbyists wrote on April 09, 2008 01:22 PM: Can you imagine the impact if each agency hired its own lobbying firm to protect its portion of the budget. This is an outrageous waste of taxpayer dollars.

Each agency should use its own staff to persuade lawmakers one way or the other. It is a bad precedent to set.

Charge More! wrote on April 09, 2008 01:16 PM: Everyone seems to forget that the Authority has the ability to charge for the services it provides. If a customer chooses to schedule their show during the summer months, charge them more. We should encourage energy intensive shows to schedule during the cool months anyway.

Also, allow the hotels to decide if they are getting the best advertising bang for the buck. Let the hotels keep their room-tax money and pay the authority if they believe they are doing a good job.

No Solution For Illegals wrote on April 09, 2008 01:04 PM: Nevada will never implement measures to curb illegals, because the hotels won't allow it. Everyone knows that our resorts are full of illegal employees. Why do you think that all hotel workers no longer need a sheriffs card?

Our plight could get worse as adjacent states make laws to rid themselves of illegals. The governor and lawmakers won't do anything to help the citizens in this regard, otherwise their campaign money would dry up.

The lobbyists are a waste of taxpayer money, because the reason that our budgets are extended is due to the illegals that hotels need for employees.

Why Build Now? wrote on April 09, 2008 12:57 PM: The LVCVA is doing a massive building project at a time when dollars are scarce. Rumor has it that tens of millions of dollars have been spent without any holes being dug (can someone verify this)

If postponing building will help prevent teacher layoffs or letting prisoners go free, it is worth it.

You would think the state entities would share in the pain of the budget shortfall. Some some to be saying let them eat cake.

ths wrote on April 09, 2008 11:10 AM: I have to agree with Douglas here.

They are able to balance their budgets including supporting road construction and giving 50% of its tax take to local government. What else you want?

They support themselves by attracting visitors, conventions and much more that stay in hotel rooms. It is those hotel stays and the 90% occupancy that they have been able to sustain for so long that makes them flush with cash.

We should punish them for being successful? If they don't attract people we would not just lose out on the room tax, but the gaming, car rental, and sales tax.

They should defend themselves from people in political power or people that want to push their agenda through propositions. These are people that don't look at the big picture, but more a self serving interest.

douglas wrote on April 09, 2008 10:06 AM: the convention authority shouldn't have to defend itself against frivolous suits.

since the educational system refuses to rid itself of illegal infiltrator parasites draining their budgets, they require zero additional funding.

if a fellow refuses to plug the holes in his gas tank, should neighbors be required to buy him gas ?

Lobbyist Spending? wrote on April 09, 2008 09:06 AM: It doesn't sound right for the authority to spend money to protect itself. It is like the state spending money to negotiate with itself.