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Union backs lone Democrat campaigning for governor
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Rory Reid
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Doug Hampton
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Sen. John Ensign
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Apr. 10, 2012 | 10:03 a.m.
The Nevada State Education Association, which represents about 30,000 teachers and support staff, has endorsed Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid for governor.
Reid is the lone Democrat campaigning for the job. Incumbent Jim Gibbons, former federal judge Brian Sandoval and former North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon are running on the Republican side.
The association said it interviewed Reid and Montandon and received a response to its questionnaire from Gibbons. It didn't mention Sandoval, who is leading in polls.
"The choice was clear. Rory Reid had specifics on what he plans to do for K-12 public education and supports the issues we fight for every day," said NSEA President Lynn Warne.
According to the group's Web site: "The primary mission of NSEA is to advocate the professional rights and economic security of its members, while also serving as the prominent voice for excellence in public education in Nevada."
TAX ASSESSORS REVOLT
The Nevada Policy Research Institute, a conservative think tank, continues its series of reports on a burgeoning taxpayer revolt in Northern Nevada that could have statewide implications.
Only this time it is tax assessors in revolt.
Freelance journalist John Dougherty reports that tax assessors have rebuffed a request to appear for a state Board of Equalization hearing Dec. 3.
"The assessors' refusal stunned (Las Vegas accountant and Board of Equalization member Dennis) Meservy, who in an earlier interview Thursday morning predicted all the assessors would attend the meeting. Meservy suggested that the board may issue subpoenas demanding the assessors' appearance. 'We will have to talk to our legal counsel,' he said," the story states.
Taxpayers near Lake Tahoe have long been alleging tax assessors are in violation of state law that requires uniform statewide procedures for appraising property for taxation.
Dougherty reports: "The assessors' refusal to appear before the equalization board comes as increasing public scrutiny into Nevada's property-tax assessment system has revealed a systemic failure by the state Tax Commission and the state Department of Taxation to ensure that county assessors are using uniform methods for the appraisal of property. The state Supreme Court in December 2006 ruled that assessors must use only appraisal techniques that have been approved by the commission, per state law."
The report can be found at www.NPRI.org.
'ASTONISHING' INTERVIEW ABOUT ENSIGN
An interview providing "astonishing" details about Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., and his affair with former employee Cynthia Hampton is scheduled to run tonight on ABC's "Nightline."
Doug Hampton, former aide to Ensign and husband to Cynthia, will appear on the national news program to talk about the affair and allegations of illegal attempts to cover it up.
An ABC News preview promises "astonishing new details about the affair and its many repercussions, including the end of a close 20-year friendship between the two families and the loss of the Hamptons' jobs."
CHECKING HEALTH REFORM FACTS
State Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, on Thursday chided Washington lawmakers for failing to grasp the facts on health care reform legislation.
But an entry about Medicare on the Web site www.factcheck.org contradicts one of Amodei's facts.
During his speech to Boulder City Republican Women, Amodei paraphrased former President Ronald Reagan's use of a quote by former president and political philosopher John Adams who said, "Facts are stubborn things." Amodei was illustrating his criticism of health care legislation from the House and U.S. Senate.
"Legislation at its core is about getting the policy right," Amodei said. "Facts are your friend."
He also said under pending health care reform legislation, "for those of you that care about Medicare don't worry about that, that's kind of going away. Those are facts."
But the Web site www.factcheck.org says it is "outright false" to say health legislation on the table will slash seniors' Medicare benefits.
"The claim that (President Barack) Obama and Congress are cutting seniors' Medicare benefits to pay for the health care overhaul is outright false, though that doesn't keep it from being repeated ad infinitum," the site states.
The entry, headlined "Seven falsehoods about health care," also lists as myths the statements "families will save $2,500" and "illegal immigrants will be covered."
The post was written in August, and the legislation has changed since then and could change further as House and U.S. Senate versions are merged.
Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.
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Kathleen, wow, gotta love your logic, "When the name calling starts, as it has with Rory Reid, you know he must be doing something right!!!" If a statement like that is all you need to support a candidate for political office...Gawd help us!!!
Pull your head out, and find another way to choose a candidate to support, like maybe their record or affiliations
Breaking news:
Conservatives are backing the Republican candidate, liberals are backing the Democratic candidate.
In other news pro-life groups have pledged support to Republicans and pro-choice groups have pledged support to Democrats.
Stay tuned for updates as more details come in.
Did we really need an article to tell us a union is backing a Democrat?
Has a union ever backed a Republican?
This is as newsworthy as an article about the sun rising again this morning.
Steve F,
Last I heard illegal immigrants weren't directly covered but the bills didn't include language to verify citizenship, essentially providing a loophole for coverage. Is that what you are talking about that or have changes to the bill been made beyond that?
One interesting thing I did find on fact check in reference to this article is the costs they estimate to private business are more dramatic than I thought.
For companies that currently provide insurance for their employees:
Less than 10 employees will save about $800 per employee per year.
10 - 24 employees will save about $350 per employee per year.
25 - 100 employees will see additional costs of about $400 per employee per year.
More than 100 employees will see additional costs of about $250 per employee per year.
For businesses not currently providing health insurance their costs are estimated to go up between $630 and $1182 per employee per year.
At least now I understand how the government is planning to pay for this, I just don't see a way this isn't going to increase costs of goods and unemployment though.