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Mar. 06, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

PETITION FILED: Ballot question rules targeted

Effort would require two-thirds approval by public on tax issues

By ED VOGEL
REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Former state Controller Steve Martin filed an initiative petition Wednesday that would require a two-thirds affirmative vote by the public on ballot questions to increase taxes.

Martin noted that the state constitution requires a two-thirds vote of both houses of the Legislature on tax bills and the same requirement should apply when citizens vote on tax increases. Now, only a simple majority vote is needed when citizens decide ballot initiatives that would raise taxes.

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"Why shouldn't there be two-thirds requirement on initiatives as well?" he asked.

Martin, a Republican, served as state controller for six months in 2006 following the death of Controller Kathy Augustine. He was defeated in the general election by Kim Wallin.

By raising the tax passage standard, the Las Vegas accountant said backers would need to secure more bipartisan support for their proposals.

"They need to sell it to the people," Martin said. "That is the key."

Democrats have a slight registration advantage now, but Martin said typically the breakdown has been nearly 50-50.

Martin acknowledged that he has support from the Las Vegas Sands Corp. on his two-thirds plan but plans to seek donations from other businesses as well.

Sands President Bill Weidner expressed his support for the higher tax increase requirement in a recent Reno television appearance, while Gov. Jim Gibbons said Wednesday in another television interview that he backs the two-thirds plan.

Gibbons and his wife, Dawn, circulated the petitions that led to the overwhelming public vote on the constitutional amendment requiring two-thirds support in the Legislature on tax increases.

Earlier this year, the Sands and the Nevada Resort Association successfully challenged in court a petition by the Nevada State Education Association, or NSEA, that would have let voters decide whether to increase the gaming tax by 3 percentage points.

A Review-Journal poll showed more than two-thirds of respondents favored the tax increase. But another poll found most residents opposed Clark County lawyer Kermitt Waters' petitions to triple the 6.75 percent gaming tax.

A judge also threw out Waters' petitions. The NSEA has filed a new petition seeking a public vote on a plan to increase the gaming tax to 9.75 percent. The Nevada Resort Association also is challenging this second NSEA petition.

Martin said it is clear to him that people are resorting to circulating petitions to increase taxes rather than securing legislative support.

Like the NSEA, Martin must secure 58,836 valid signatures by May 20 to qualify his petition for the November ballot.

It must be approved then, and again in 2010, before the two-thirds tax vote requirement would be placed in the constitution. Martin's higher standard would not go into effect until 2011.

Consequently, if the teachers association won public support on its plan to increase the gaming tax this year and in 2010, it would need only a simple majority vote.

Contact reporter Ed Vogel at evogel @reviewjournal.com or (775) 687-3901.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: UNLVStud wrote on March 06, 2008 11:41 AM: As a rule, I'm not in favor of initiative petitions, but this one is different. This petition is about parity in the Constitution. The Constitution was first perverted by Gibbons with his petition to increase the requirement to pass certain bills in both houses of the Legislature to a super-majority vote of both houses rather than the original restrictions placed by the Founders. This parity amendment would prevent the same concerns Gibbons was worried about back then when he circulated his petition: special interests controlling the tax policy of the State. Whether it is a majority of a party in the Legislature, or a special interest group from out of state, the same rules should apply. Super majority vote requirements for all! duppy wrote on March 06, 2008 11:11 AM: Remember this, fellow citizens: When the government fears the people, we have liberty. When the people fear the government, we have tyranny. tax this wrote on March 06, 2008 06:27 AM: yes, we need to pay more taxes so that we have nothing left to enjoy a quality of life. We are all slaves to our government and we don't care. We are ok with it. :-) MORE TAXES...........I HAVE ENOUGH LEFT OVER TO BUY A PACK OF CIGARETTES WHICH TELLS ME I'M NOT PAYING ENOUGH TAXES. cattle wrote on March 06, 2008 06:25 AM: had they gotten an increase when they wanted it, they would have had enough money to investigate desai long before the people had to discover it. Give them all raises so they can effectively do their 'job'. sheep sleeping wrote on March 06, 2008 06:23 AM: gee, this sounds like a good idea, i mean, these people work HARD. the Mayor of NLV could not be reached for comments. Give them a raise so they can have cell phones to write off that way they can be reached for comments. I just wonder if that Mayor does have a cell phone paid with your tax dollars. Cuz if he does.........he should have been able to be reached for comments. this is all ubsurd. where have "we the people" gone? wrote on March 06, 2008 06:15 AM: here we go again. distract the sheep with life threatening crisis (terrorisim, hepatitis and Aids) then poke em in the rear when they aren't looking. wake up sheep. Helen Weils wrote on March 06, 2008 05:45 AM: WHERE DO I SIGN UP FOR THIS BALLOT INITIATIVE??? YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! taxes wrote on March 06, 2008 05:05 AM: why are they wanting to raise taxes? They don't do anything for us as it is? I just don't get it. where is all our money going? Becky wrote on March 06, 2008 04:56 AM: TAXES TAXES TAXES Over and Over and Over again! Taxes are NOT the answer to big government. The word you seek is Layoff's and Reduction in Force. A lot of money goes to Police, Prison's and the Legal system in Nevada. The citizens and taxpayers are the only suffering thanks to these out of control agencies. Thats right, go after the people's Social Security income that was already taxed. Then increase the Sales tax. Then increase the Property tax. Then increase the individual city tax. Then increase the city Misc tax. Then increase the DMV tax etc etc etc. When will it end? Stop filling prisons and reduce the cost. Stop hiring abusive cops and reduce the cost. Stop hiring judges and reduce the cost. Reduce the sales tax to sell more products and create more job. Raising taxes is NOT the answer. Becky wrote on March 06, 2008 04:56 AM: TAXES TAXES TAXES Over and Over and Over again! Taxes are NOT the answer to big government. The word you seek is Layoff's and Reduction in Force. A lot of money goes to Police, Prison's and the Legal system in Nevada. The citizens and taxpayers are the only suffering thanks to these out of control agencies. Thats right, go after the people's Social Security income that was already taxed. Then increase the Sales tax. Then increase the Property tax. Then increase the individual city tax. Then increase the city Misc tax. Then increase the DMV tax etc etc etc. When will it end? Stop filling prisons and reduce the cost. Stop hiring abusive cops and reduce the cost. Stop hiring judges and reduce the cost. Reduce the sales tax to sell more products and create more job. Raising taxes is NOT the answer.