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.

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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?