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EDITORIAL
Rory's budget plan
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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid said Thursday he could balance Nevada's next budget without raising taxes by cutting the number of state agencies and administrative staff, while still pouring state funds into higher education to attract new industries.
In his budget blueprint, titled "Moving Nevada Forward," the son of unpopular Democratic U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (see above) said cutting the number of state agencies from 26 to 16 would save about $48 million.
Some of his proposals were taken from a report by the Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission, empaneled by Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons in 2008.
The Clark County Commission chairman trails in the polls by double digits to Republican Brian Sandoval, a former Nevada attorney general and federal judge.
Rory Reid said Thursday that he would extend monthly furloughs for state employees and suspend merit and longevity salary increases. He also said he would allow about $1 billion in temporary taxes and fees approved by the 2009 Legislature to expire in June 2011.
The Democrat said he would also adopt a four-day state work week, something lawmakers approved during a special session in February. Gov. Gibbons, objecting to other provisions in the bill, vetoed it.
Other proposals in Rory Reid's plan include privatizing inmate medical and mental health care.
"Rory Reid should be applauded for presenting a no-new-taxes budget and being willing to go on record with his proposals," responded Geoffrey Lawrence, a fiscal policy analyst with the Nevada Policy Research Institute, though he criticized the plan for being short on details and relying on "untenable assumptions," foremost of which he said was "Reid's assumption of significantly higher revenue collections."
Commissioner Reid's budget plan assumes that Nevada will collect $615 million more in taxes in fiscal year 2013 than the Legislative Counsel Bureau currently projects.
The younger Reid deserves credit for proposing a no-tax-hike budget. The question is whether -- as a Democratic governor presumably riding herd on a tax-hungry Democratic state Legislature -- a "Governor Reid" could make good on such plans.
His time on the Clark County Commission has shown the younger Reid is indeed willing to break with some of his party's most destructive high-tax, big-spending, pro-government-union advocacy. At the very least, he deserves credit for bringing forth some specifics, and thus advancing a real -- and much needed -- debate on Nevada's economic future.
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FIRE ALL OF THE COPS AND FIREFIGHTERS AND START OVER. I'M SURE THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WILLING TO TAKE THOSE JOBS. CAP PAY. NO PERS PAID FOR BY THE PUBLIC.
STOP THE PUBLIC SCHOOL UNION MADNESS AND GIVE OUT VOUCHERS TO ANYONE WHO PUTS THEIR KIDS IN PRIVATE SCHOOL OR HOME SCHOOLS.
ENFORCE THE NEVADA CONSTITUION AND KEEP OUT ALL DOUBLE DIPPING GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES FROM THE LEGISTURE. (THESE SAME GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES VOTE ON THEIR OWN PAY RAISES AND BENEFITS IN VIOLATION OF THE NEVADA CONSTITUTION).
END THE STUPID MILLENIUM SCHOLARSHIP BOONDOGGLE.
IT HAS COST THE TAXPAYERS BILLIONS WITH NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT. NO, IT'S NOT FREE PEOPLE, WAKE UP!!!
VOTE OUT EVERY INCUMBENT IN THE LEGISLATURE, EVERY ONE OF THEM AND START OVER!! TO BAD WE CAN'T DUMP THAT LOSER RHINO RAGGIO NOW!!
MAYBE THEY'LL GET THE MESSAGE!!!
REMEMBER WHORESFORD??? PAY FOR PLAY??? THAT'S THE WAY IT IS UP THERE!!!
Uh oh Rory, hope your daddy doesn't find out or you might be grounded.
SAVE 4 BILLION $s ON NEVADA’S NEXT BUDGET
The next bi-annual budget (2 years) is 3 Billion Dollars Short
SOLUTION;
Nevada pays 1 Billion each year OVER and ABOVE what private sector
gets, to appease the Public Unions (like 150K cops & fire)
STOP IT NOW , do not extend 1 more contract 1 more day UNLESS IT
IS AT Private sector pay and benefits level
For those who whine for the 150K fire & cops= the national average is
50K for each (and 70% of all U.S. fire fighters are volunteers)
BTW, Nevada has a cost of living that is EXACTLY the national average.
Nevada also SPENDS hundreds of millions a year due to illegal aliens.
Contact NV legislature
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/general/feedback.cfm
state senate info w/ e-mail
www.leg.state.nv.us/Senate/Current/Senators/slist.cfm
assembly contact w/ e-mail
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/75th2009/legislators/Assembly/alist.cfm
Yeah, ok, this coming from the guy that signed the contracts that let the fire hero's pay average $200,000 per year...
I don't believe any Democrat wants to limit government or cut government jobs. Just don't.
reid actually looked at the state govt agencies and their missions. there is duplication and he wants to merge agencies that do the same thing. sandoval just wants to cut more salary (again). even though some teachers qualify for welfare now. sandoval shows he's just another lackey who smiles and taunts the party line. reid at least managed a budget, something sandoval's never done.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, and you'll know we're both Democrats.
The nut doesn't fall far from the tree.
Rory will lie just like Daddy to get elected. Say one thing, turn 180 degrees, and implement the opposite. Oh, he'll be "forced" into it I'm sure. Spend, then spend more, right Rory? Right Harry?
Rory must be getting desparate to start talking about cutting! Generally he is with the bunch of tax tax, spend spend and regulate politicians. hmmmm suppose he realized he is down in the polls, so time to say what the people want to hear, not what he would actually do. Like old times eh !!!
More of the phony "Hope and Change" rhetoric form Harry's clone. ODJ should weigh in on this plan.