Transparency
Mutually assured donations
Back-scratching abounds in Clark County education.
Why is the Clark County School District issuing checks for millions of dollars to Southern Nevada's powerful teacher union? According to purchase and change orders reviewed by the Nevada Policy Research Institute, within the last two years a total of $4.9 million has been approved by CCSD trustees for payment directly to the Clark County Education Association, or to a foundation controlled by the union.
Old myths about the New Deal
We must reject the Hoover-Roosevelt approach to economic policy.
Las Vegas Sun publisher Brian Greenspun this week turned his normal column space over to a former assistant professor of economics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Ropchai Premsrirut, who focused on creating jobs in a shrinking economy.
That old Trojan Horse
Calls for education spending hikes are based on dubious statistics.
Nevada faces a steadily worsening economy, thanks in no small part to poor federal regulatory policies that are driving up inflation and destroying the value of the American dollar. This problem exacerbates Nevada's already massive budgetary shortfall, which will continue to worsen as the dollar continues to weaken.
Corporate welfare, corruption and the ‘blight' of the poor
The case for reform of Nevada's redevelopment laws
The need for reform of property rights in Nevada is clear. Property rights that are defensible under the rule of law are the very foundation of a market economy. However, property rights in Nevada have eroded due to a set of community redevelopment laws that confer dangerous amounts of power upon local politicians.
Bursting the spending balloon
Budget shortfalls should give hope to Nevadans.
The current financial crisis and related economic downturn are leading to sharply reduced tax revenues across state and local governments in Nevada. While the resulting budget shortfalls are frequently viewed as deplorable, they could be the silver lining of these cloudy times.
The code language is flying again
Nevada's tax-hikers have you in their cross-hairs
Former governor Kenny Guinn – he of the record near-billion tax increase – is beating the drum again for "long-term" state planning. Just what does that really mean? Let's time-travel back to 1998, during Guinn's initial run for governor, when "long-term planning" was one of his frequent talking points.
Less Is More
How Government Caused the Financial Crisis
Public authorities in Nevada and across the globe are pointing fingers in the wrong direction. They are blaming private investors and entrepreneurs engaging in free enterprise for the faults of Washington. Senator Harry Reid's website claims that a lack of government involvement in transactions between private individuals "caused the current financial crisis hurting Nevada families."
The Nevada Piglet Book 2008
Open-records requests made of state agencies and local governments around Nevada reveal that wasteful government spending is rampant throughout the Silver State.
The Superintendent Shuffle
Carson City School District ignores open meetings laws
Since when is it legal for a school board president to unilaterally modify district contracts and spend district money? That's one question growing out of recent actions by Carson City School District President James LeMaire.
New taxes, same old tune
Reasons for more taxes fall flat.
Jon Ralston recently joined the chorus of politicians and pundits calling for a "restructuring" of Nevada's tax code, which, in plain language, means "raising taxes."
