Could the whole of Nevada’s future come down to one race in 2010?  That might not be far from the truth with the battle for Senate District 5 between Joyce Woodhouse and Michael Roberson.  If you’re like me, you might not believe that a state senate race could be so important.  Wait until you hear about this one.

The party that controls the Nevada Legislature after this election cycle will decide the whole redistricting of the state in 2011.  Gerrymandering is the process of redistricting to ensure that your party wins as many seats as possible every year.  This year, as with most, the majority of the races are already decided because of redistricting from the last go around.

If Democrats are able to pick up two more seats in the senate, they will have a super-majority in both houses of the Nevada Legislature.  That would give them full control over the process of redistricting.  If that happens, the Democrats will have a solid political advantage for at least the next ten years, and likely for much longer.

There are four notable senate races this year.  Two of the seats are open, one because of a surprise loss by incumbent Republican Sen. Dennis Nolan in the primaries to newbie Elizabeth Halseth.  Here’s the lineup:

1. Senate District 8: Incumbent Republican Barbara Cegavske vs. Democrat Tammy Peterson. Registered voters: 41 percent Democrat, 39 percent Republican, 20 percent other.

2. Senate District 5: Incumbent Democrat Joyce Woodhouse vs. Republican Michael Roberson. Registered voters: 41 percent Democrat, 39 percent Republican, 21 percent other.

3. Senate District 9: Democrat Benny Yerushalmi vs. Republican Elizabeth Halseth. Registered voters: 41 percent Democrat, 38 percent Republican, 22 percent other.

4. Senate District 12: Republican Assemblyman Joe Hardy vs. Democrat Aaron Ford. Registered voters: 39 percent Democrat, 40 percent Republican, 21 percent other.

Conservative commentator Chuck Muth points out that Republican incumbent Sen. Barbara Cegavske and Elizabeth Halseth are the two most likely to lose to Democrats.  That’s the two seats Democrats can realistically pick up.

The more difficult question is can the Democrats keep their seat in District 5 with Joyce Woodhouse?  Some suggest she’s vulnerable.  However, her party has a registration advantage in that district.  No doubt she’ll be working hard to solidify her base and get them to the poles.

Senator Woodhouse served as an educator here in Nevada before taking on responsibilities as our representative.  Her background and commitment to Nevada schools is appealing for those supporting education.

Michael Roberson moved to Nevada in 2000.  He is an attorney with the law firm Kolesar & Leatham.  He has his own plans for education.  He wants to “cut the education bureaucracy” and expand private charter schools.

So this is it!  This is one of those races that you should focus on.  Students and members of the community at large should pitch in and help whatever side they believe in, because there is a lot at stake here.

To find what district you live in, or to register to vote, go here.  The registration deadline is October 2nd.  Don’t procrastinate.

This upcoming legislative session, Nevada is facing close to a 2.5 – 3 billion dollar deficit in the State general fund.  The Nevada Millennium Scholarship may not be available for students after the fall.  The community colleges and universities are asked to cut their budgets by 6.9% for 2010 and 2011.  When February hits they are going to have to cut even more.  When is this madness going to end?

“In a country like this… if there can not be money found to answer the common purposes of education… it is evident that there is something amiss in the ruling political power.”

-George Washington 1^st President of the United States of America

I begin with an unusual title for this article because I ask whoever is reading this to decide.  Down the road we may develop an idea of socialist education (what the GOP claims Rory Reid wants to do): the schools are overloaded, the teachers are paid less than they already are and the schools are in the red (deficits).

Then there is the opposite, elitist education (what the NSDP claims Sandoval and Montandon wants to do and Gibbons is currently doing): very few kids go to school (usually from upper economic families who can afford private school tuition), the unemployment and drop out rates rise and kids are lost from finding what they want to do.

We can achieve the balance if we make an attempt.

Governor Jim Gibbons has made few attempts to help education.  In between 2007-2010 we have seen higher education cut their budgets drastically.  K-12 education is diminishing year after year.  Boards like the CCSD Board of Trustees, NSHE Board of Regents, the Nevada State Board of Education and the Legislative Interim Finance Committee are starting to really worry.

Who is also worrying?  How about the college students, the grade school students who understand the circumstances, the parents and more or less the community of Nevada?

The answer does not fall in socialist or elitist positions, rather education should be a well funded system that is regulated but is left to the schools to run the day to day operations and goal setting.  Teachers need to make the sacrifices for our future.   Administration needs to take the risk to save our future.  Government has to show the students and parents that they care about the futures of their constituents.

Student/parent inspiration is the final piece.   We need students feeling proud about their work and parents taking an active interest in their child’s future.

In February, 2011 our state legislature will meet to deal with the projected budget shortfall.  Our State Constitution requires the Legislature to fund education and balance our revenues and expenses.  To raise revenues, an option would be to increase taxes or create new taxes.  Some options include raising taxes on Nevada citizens or tourists coming to Nevada.  Fairness is the issue, but deep down Nevada and its citizens know that they need to expand our economic situation and tax it to survive.  People are coming up with new ideas but we do not need to focus directly on those issues.

Governor Jim Gibbons, former North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon and former Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval have either signed a “no new tax” pledge or signaled that they would veto any tax proposals from the people/Legislature.  This is wrong.  There are new industries that will move to or be created in Nevada.  For a state executive to stop money from staying in our state is major red light for his/her constituents.  Any voter who votes for a candidate who will not create taxes for the mining, casino, energy, corporate or any industry is making a mistake.

Many people ask when the state of education is going to get better.  Well, how is education funded?  The educational system is funded through state funds and if the state is going to balance the budget and fund education first, there has to be the funds to do so.  We cannot stare down the barrel of a budget deficit every other year!  If we bring in different markets and tax current industries, we can have the money for a well funded educational system that would be in the top 10 in the nation.

“Let public schools then be established in every county of the United States, at least as many as are necessary for the present population, and let those schools be supported by a general tax.” –Robert Coram, American Author(1761-1796)

Meet Scott Kelley.  He first attended a political/ community meeting as a member of the CSN Capitol Club back in 2005.  From there, he has gone far.

In 2008, he was elected to the Washoe County School Board for District E.  To my knowledge (Correct me if I’m wrong) he is the first member of the Capitol Club to obtain an elected office, outside of student government.

He ran for Reno City Council in 2006, losing in a close race.  He has been active in several community organizations since his days in the Capitol Club.

You can read more about him on his Facebook page here, or on the Washoe County School District site here.

He isn’t up for re-election this year, but says he is eager to get back out there and talk to people.  Scott told me, “I love campaigning, it’s such an exciting process and I’m getting better at it.”

The Capitol Club is proud to have one of its own out there serving the public.  Congratulations Scott!  You have set a good example for us.  Keep up the good work!

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On April 27, 2010, Working America members will hold an event outside

Wells Fargo on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Charleston to tell

big banks: “I am not your ATM.” Participants will send the message

to Wall Street that working people will no longer clean up its mess, and

call for financial reform. Working America members will take pictures in

front of ATMs delivering a personal message to Wall Street that will be

posted at www.notyouratm.com.

Working America will deliver the photos along with 10,000 handwritten

letters and messages recorded for big banks throughout the week and

during shareholder meetings so Wall Street will hear, see and read

firsthand how angry Main Street is.

Working America is calling for strong financial reform that will hold

big banks accountable. The “I am not your ATM” events are part of a

national, week-long mobilization against the big banks and Wall Street

firms led by the AFL-CIO.

What: Event outside Wells Fargo in downtown Las Vegas
Who: Working America members
When: April 27, 2010 at 2:00 PM

Where: Wells Fargo

1121 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Las Vegas, NV

(On the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Charleston)

–

Working America, community affiliate of the AFL-CIO, represents working
families to mobilize around economic issues like health care and good
jobs. Working America represents 3 million people and is the
fastest-growing organization for working people in the country. For more
information, go to www.workingamerica.org.

The Board of Regents approved the CSN budget cuts on Friday, April 16th.  Our own Aimee Riley was in attendance, along with Nate Waugh, student body president.

Channel 3 did a story featuring Aimee Riley. Here is the video.

Riley made this statement about the Regents meeting:

The outcomes of today are devastating for CSN, its students and faculty and the system as a whole. To accommodate our budget cuts from the state, we are forced to choose between quality of education and access for students. According to CSN President Dr. Richards, 5,000 math and science students have already been turned away because we cannot provide adequate resources.

I was heartbroken and in tears at points throughout the meeting realizing that higher ed is being decimated piece by piece, year after year. This is not a new problem, we have faced significant cuts for a number of years. What is most disconcerting is that the trend is getting worse rather than better. The cuts are going deeper, to a point that the damage may be irreversible. We are no longer cutting “the fat,” we are now into vital organs.

I feel that Nevada needs to take a drastically different approach if we want to succeed as a community. I recognize that the regents and the administration have their hands tied. Perhaps the legislators have their hands tied too. Who has the final say? We the People. I appeal to my fellow citizens to get involved, let our elected officials know you support education and most importantly to vote!

CSN President Michael Richards (who has an awesome blog we link to on the right) indicates that students will be affected:

Students have been called upon once again to take the brunt of these cuts. It will be harder for them to get the classes they need. There will be longer lines for student support services, such as tutoring and advising.

CSN has much more information on their budget cuts website here.

KXNT had these details:

The state Board of Regents has approved about $7.5 million in budget cuts for the College of Southern Nevada. The plan will cut about $2 million from the remaining budget this year, and about $5.5 million from the 2011 budget. It includes eliminating about 60 full-time faculty, and limiting some class selections and vocational programs. Today’s meeting focused on the budgets of community and state colleges, but state University Chancellor Dan Klaich says a final decision on cuts at UNLV and UNR likely won’t come until June. In addition, regents are considering a plan to raise tuition by 7.5% over the next two years. Nevada’s higher education system is facing mandated cuts due to falling tax revenues which resulted in a nearly $1 billion budget deficit.

The League of Women Voters, at the 1984 National Convention, adopted criteria for evaluating federal tax policy and adopted a two year study of fiscal policy. After the study, a position on tax policy was developed and serves to guide League positions on fiscal positions.

The League of Women Voters believes that fiscal policy should be fair and equitable; provide adequate resources for government programs while allowing flexibility for financing future program changes; be understandable to the taxpayer; encourage compliance; and accomplish its objectives without creating undue administrative problems. Taxes should be progressive, not proportional.

This study concentrated on the federal tax system, nevertheless, the position holds as a litmus test for all fiscal policies. The League supports income as the major tax base for federal revenue; believes that the federal income tax should be broad-based with minimal tax preferences and a progressive rate structure; opposes a value-added tax or national sales tax in the federal tax system.

Today’s Sun Commentary brought to light that Nevada‘s structure for years has been studied and found lacking. “The Legislature continues to plug budget holes with quick fixes that do not address our longer-term problems. We need modifications in the existing tax structure that will provide a better revenue stream going forward”

Nevada has and continues to depend heavily on gaming taxes and related taxes on hotels, rental cars, and the sales tax.  The tax fixes from 2009 and special session 2010 will expire in 2011. Prior to that time Nevada needs a tax system that fits the economic climate of 2010 and future needs. Suggestions such as reconsidering existing exemptions to the sales tax to make sure they make sense, looking again at the modified business tax and perhaps a value-added tax are viable options.   Much has changed since 1984 including an explosion in internet sales which opens the question of a sales tax on internet sales.  Much has changed since 1865 with the mining industry.  Looking at respecting constitutional constraints but looking ahead to a mining extraction tax would be an option.

These are uncharted times calling for uncharted solutions and change to our Nevada tax system should mirror changes in “production and consumption patterns adjusting to changes in technology, completion, consumer preferences and demographics.”

Preparing now for restructuring the tax system in Nevada for the 2011 Legislature is not an option; it is the right thing to do.

The League of Women Voters welcomes all individuals to join. I was asked in a recent email if I was a man.    At this time there are no men who serve on the state board as officers. We do have a gentleman as one of our board of directors.

Respectfully, Sam King President of the League of Woman Voters of Nevada.

.

Can anyone tell us who is Brian Sandoval? Mike Montandon offers up a few suggestions in his smear website, created to paint an unsavory picture (at least for the far right) of the apparent front runner of the GOP for Nevada Governor. Take a look here.

Who is Mike Montandon? The recently retired Mayor of North Las Vegas is also running for the GOP nomination for Nevada Governor. Polls indicate he is behind the rest of the pack.

WhoIsBrianSandoval.com states Sandoval is a “Liberal Republican.” Under a Jeopardy board, statements come into focus like “pro-choice Catholic” then “Who is Brian Sandoval.” Among other things, it says he is “against traditional marriage,” “supports civil unions,” “quit two most recent jobs,” and “Harry Reid supported him.”

Brian Sandoval was “hand picked by the establishment” says the website. What does that even mean? You decide.

Right now Republicans have some choices to make, notwithstanding the inherent irony in that statement. They must choose whether they keep the promiscuous, libertarian and often absent incumbent Jim Gibbons in office, go with the “Liberal Republican hand picked by the establishment” or try for the lesser known Mike Montandon, the self-proclaimed “real conservative.”

Who is it going to be?

Nevada Gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid put forth his education plan, Economic Development through Greater Education (EDGE), on March 22, 2010. He held a town hall meeting that night at 6:30 pm at Bracken Elementary School. He presented his plan to a group of students, educators and citizens and told the crowd that the plan would work for Nevada.

There, an economist would appear and explain that the plan can be paid for and all measures proposed would work. A picture perfect moment was when Dan Klaich, the Chancellor of the Nevada Board of Regents and Co-Chair for the Nevada Reform Task Force, shook hands with the candidate, smiling as if to tell him “good job.”

Let us not forget the fact that we are far from improving our economy, and thus, far from improving our school system.

Although Rory did draft EDGE, with the help of his campaign staff, there are many things that are borrowed from other candidates and our own Governor. He charges that his opponents, Judge Brian Sandoval and Governor Jim Gibbons, only want to cut education. However, Rory Reid made a mistake in the defense his own plan. He failed to define how he will pay for his education plan. Yikes!

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