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George H.W. Bush once referred to Ronald Reagan’s economic plan as “Voodoo Economics” when both were running in the presidential primaries almost 30 years ago.
After Gov. Jim Gibbons delivered his State of the State message last week by detailing how gutted out many statewide programs would become during the next two years, we can only conclude that the governor and his staff called the Psychic Hotline but encountered a busy signal.
We sense the Silver State is taking a giant step backward with no immediate hope for moving ahead.
By doing his best modern day impression of “Read my lips, no new taxes,” Gibbons hopes the legislature will make the tough decisions.
While we do not favor raising taxes (although it may be inevitable), both the governor and legislature must look at ways to generate income in case the state cannot climb out of its deepening financial hole with the planned resources forecasted for the next two years.
Gibbons said he doesn’t want to raise taxes, yet he wants to balance the budget on the backs of state employees and teachers. He wants them to take a 6 percent cut in their salaries, but the hatchet job is much more than 6 percent. For example in Churchill County, teachers opted to take only a 2 percent raise last year even though the state had approved much more.
Combined with the proposed cut and the 4 percent teachers didn’t take because of the sinking economy, they will lose 10 percent — more if they must pay additional in insurance premiums. Their spending power will also be reduced if they have to pay more on their health insurance premiums. We see this proposal as producing a domino effect which will cause teachers to spend less. Consequently, the rest of the economy doesn’t thrive, people lose jobs …
Get the picture?
Gibbons’ 36 percent slashing of the university system’s budget contradicts his feelings on making education a cornerstone in the state. In his proposal, UNLV stands to lose 51 percent of its state money. The University of Nevada, Reno fares no better with a 38 percent reduction, and the community colleges including WNC will also suffer major cuts to their staffs and programs.
The governor’s plan for the colleges almost seems like retribution against Chancellor Jim Rogers and the Board of Regents for having the guts to stand up to Gibbons in previous confrontations about budgets.
Furthermore, Gibbons wants to take more money away from the counties to balance the budget. Although Churchill County could lose several million dollars, Clark County would lose about $47 million.
Amazing!
We are pleased, though, that Churchill County’s two assemblymen and state senator view the governor’s proposal as nothing more than a blueprint and that much more work needs to be done.
Hopefully, during the 120 days the legislature meets, Gibbons and his staff will be able to sort through this budget crisis with the legislature. Rather than being adversarial, Gibbons needs to “reach across the aisle” and work with — and not against — the Democrats.
Now is not the time for bipartisan politics and a game of “gotcha.” It’s time for our elected officials to light the candle and guide Nevada through these dark and gloomy days.
Editorials are written by the LVN Editorial staff and appear on Wednesdays.
After Gov. Jim Gibbons delivered his State of the State message last week by detailing how gutted out many statewide programs would become during the next two years, we can only conclude that the governor and his staff called the Psychic Hotline but encountered a busy signal.
We sense the Silver State is taking a giant step backward with no immediate hope for moving ahead.
By doing his best modern day impression of “Read my lips, no new taxes,” Gibbons hopes the legislature will make the tough decisions.
While we do not favor raising taxes (although it may be inevitable), both the governor and legislature must look at ways to generate income in case the state cannot climb out of its deepening financial hole with the planned resources forecasted for the next two years.
Gibbons said he doesn’t want to raise taxes, yet he wants to balance the budget on the backs of state employees and teachers. He wants them to take a 6 percent cut in their salaries, but the hatchet job is much more than 6 percent. For example in Churchill County, teachers opted to take only a 2 percent raise last year even though the state had approved much more.
Combined with the proposed cut and the 4 percent teachers didn’t take because of the sinking economy, they will lose 10 percent — more if they must pay additional in insurance premiums. Their spending power will also be reduced if they have to pay more on their health insurance premiums. We see this proposal as producing a domino effect which will cause teachers to spend less. Consequently, the rest of the economy doesn’t thrive, people lose jobs …
Get the picture?
Gibbons’ 36 percent slashing of the university system’s budget contradicts his feelings on making education a cornerstone in the state. In his proposal, UNLV stands to lose 51 percent of its state money. The University of Nevada, Reno fares no better with a 38 percent reduction, and the community colleges including WNC will also suffer major cuts to their staffs and programs.
The governor’s plan for the colleges almost seems like retribution against Chancellor Jim Rogers and the Board of Regents for having the guts to stand up to Gibbons in previous confrontations about budgets.
Furthermore, Gibbons wants to take more money away from the counties to balance the budget. Although Churchill County could lose several million dollars, Clark County would lose about $47 million.
Amazing!
We are pleased, though, that Churchill County’s two assemblymen and state senator view the governor’s proposal as nothing more than a blueprint and that much more work needs to be done.
Hopefully, during the 120 days the legislature meets, Gibbons and his staff will be able to sort through this budget crisis with the legislature. Rather than being adversarial, Gibbons needs to “reach across the aisle” and work with — and not against — the Democrats.
Now is not the time for bipartisan politics and a game of “gotcha.” It’s time for our elected officials to light the candle and guide Nevada through these dark and gloomy days.
Editorials are written by the LVN Editorial staff and appear on Wednesdays.
