Taxes
Spending Every Last Red Cent
For the better part of the last four years we Nevadans have been told ceaselessly that our state government faces a “structural deficit.” And because of this dire situation, we are given to understand, we all must submit to some new, major and as yet unspecified increase in our tax burden.
Redoubled Efforts and Forgotten Aims
"Fanaticism,” wrote the philosopher George Santayana back in 1905, “consists in redoubling your efforts when you have forgotten your aim.”
Where's the Money Going?
Does anyone remember the hysteria behind the push for more money for crumbling, dilapidated schools a few years back? Just HAD to have more money. My goodness, the ceilings were falling in on these poor kids, heaven forbid! Pass the bond. Pass the bond. Oh, lordy, PLEASE pass the bond!
Reaping the Whirlwind
I’ve about decided that several of Nevada’s big gaming resorts secretly want the gaming tax increased.
The Shame Game
Regardless of how much you pay, it’s never enough for the NEA/NSEA
For most Nevadans it no doubt seems natural enough to see and hear the teacher union—or as it calls itself, the “Nevada State Education Association” (NSEA)—complaining that state and local taxpayers aren’t paying enough to support the government schools system.
How Not to Stimulate the Economy
The country is in recession and has been since March. At the same time we face a constant shadowy terrorist threat. The confidence of American consumers has continued to drop, and layoffs continue to grow.
Say It Ain’t So: Stadium Subsidies in Nevada
Why Taxpayers Should Not Fund Baseball in the Silver State
Politicians, developers and sports fans in Las Vegas and Reno are pushing to build new baseball stadiums in their cities. Earlier this month the Las Vegas City Council chose the Southwest Sports Group, a Dallas-based firm, to lead “redevelopment” efforts for a 61-acre parcel of land downtown. The company has plans for a publicly funded stadium for the Las Vegas 51s, the city’s Triple A team. In Reno, the city council will soon decide whether to pursue a publicly funded stadium for one of two California clubs looking to relocate to the Truckee Meadows: the Visalia Oaks (Single A) or Tacoma Rainiers (Triple A). As is the case in cities throughout America, Nevada’s pro-stadium voices are extolling the economic benefits of publicly funded sports complexes. But there is substantial evidence that the economic impact of stadiums is exaggerated. Herewith, a look at the reasons why Nevada taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize baseball stadiums.
Railroading Taxpayers
The train purchased by Amtrak to reestablish connection between Las Vegas and Los Angeles is finally in service. There’s only one problem: It’s serving the residents of Seattle and Vancouver. The plan to link Las Vegas to Los Angeles with a Talgo train is behind schedule, and Amtrak has allowed its Seattle-to-Vancouver route to borrow the vehicle. Yet despite this latest Amtrak failure, many officials from Southern Nevada’s public and private sectors continue to believe that taxpayers should fund the costs of connecting Southern Nevada and Southern California by rail. Herewith, a look at how Amtrak fleeces taxpayers, and an overview of the problems with a much-hyped “superspeed” train that might be built between Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Is Nevada Open for E-Business?
Nevada's politicians, like their counterparts across the nation, seek to draw information-technology (IT) firms to their state, as well as foster the creation of native IT enterprises. It's little wonder why such businesses are attractive to legislative careerists -- "dot coms" and other New Economy firms pay their employees well. The American Electronics Association reports that high-tech workers earn an average salary of $53,000, a figure which is 80 percent higher than salaries in other industries. Yet few of these quality jobs exist in Nevada. A recent survey which examined the percentage of technology-related employment for each state ranked Nevada a dismal 45th. Unfortunately, the state's elected officials and bureaucrats are doing very little to fix this problem -- in fact, they're making things worse.
Extortion Lawsuites: The Games of Callem, Cheatem & Howe
Back in February, Robert Reich, former Clinton Secretary of Labor, wrote an editorial in USA Today titled "Regulation is Out, Litigation is In." It was a liberal treatise extolling the merits of litigation as a tool for bureaucrats, not to mention mercenary-minded attorneys, announcing that "the era of big government is out, but the era of regulation through litigation had just begun." Reich was referring to the lawsuits levied against the tobacco industry and how governments at all levels would benefit— specifically by the revenue they would generate. But tobacco was just the beginning. Today we have the Microsoft antitrust lawsuit, cities throughout the country suing gun manufacturers, retroactive lawsuits against former manufacturers of lead paint and a federal suit against American Airlines. Attorneys generals throughout the country—including Nevada’s Frankie Sue Del Papa—have used these suits to promote their aspirations for higher office. But the cost to taxpayers is far too high.
