Thursday, June 19, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

Editor's Note: The greatest show on Earth

Looking over the list of public officials charged with balancing the state budget, it's difficult to find anyone wearing white.

From my perspective, the greatest blame must be laid at the feet of the intransigent Assembly GOP members who have exhibited the tyranny of the minority, exploiting an ill-advised constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds majority to pass a tax increase. Committed to the logically indefensible position that there's a big difference between a $700 million tax increase and an $860 million tax increase, they have served as a roadblock to progress at every opportunity. The big-name bad guys here are Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, and Assemblyman Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas.

But they aren't the only problem children. One of the reasons this archconservative bloc has rallied to the cause is it was denigrated and ignored earlier in the legislative process. This was a huge tactical mistake by the likes of Gov. Kenny Guinn, Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, and other legislative leaders who, as usual, tried to cobble together the most crucial business of the 2003 session in the final days with a small group meeting behind closed doors. Perkins, along with Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, and a few others failed to lead.

Before the legislative session began, Guinn seemed to have grown into a political leader. His tax policy task force came up with some well-thought-out ideas and Guinn helped massage them into a reasonable budget proposal. You knew there were going to be arguments once lawmakers came to the capital, but the assumption among many observers was that at least the framework of Guinn's tax plan would survive to the end of the session. It didn't, though, and Guinn in recent weeks has been shown to hold little or no sway over his GOP brethren. From the perspective of Hettrick and Beers, Guinn is to blame for the lack of resolution on taxes, because he refuses to reopen the budget and consider cuts.

Then there are the lobbyists. Perhaps the most interesting storyline is that the casino lobby has been unable to ram through its agenda--Guinn's agenda. What has happened to Casino Inc.'s prowess in political affairs? Could we be seeing the beginning of the end of company town politics in Nevada? Not likely. When the next election comes around, you do not want to be among those GOP stalwarts who are holding up the tax plan. But the Hettrick-Beers bloc--with a lot of help from the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce--has shown some refreshing moxie that few would have predicted from the usually go-along Legislature.

Unfortunately, that moxie is misdirected on this issue. Surprising to me is the general lack of concern on the part of legislative naysayers for the welfare of the public schools. My God, the papers report daily on how the Clark County School District--by which I mean the kids--is being totally screwed by the Legislature's indecision and the prospect of major budget cuts. Las Vegas growth is not slowing down, which means more kids are coming into town every day and the district is committed to finding them a desk and some books and teaching them something useful. Somehow, this very real fact, along with all its implications, does not seem to faze the likes of Bob Beers and his amen chorus at the Review-Journal editorial page.

To be fair, schools aren't at the top of Hettrick and Beers' list of cuts. They want to focus on poor people, of course, by slashing welfare, where progress has been made in recent years in cutting the rolls, and Medicaid, which already limits coverage more than most other states. And thanks to the ridiculous requirement--courtesy of Nevada voters--for a two-thirds majority to pass a tax hike, they just may get their wish. What else can be done? Hettrick, Beers and friends are holding the state hostage because they want the largest tax increase in state history to be $700 million rather than $860 million. Truth is, this conservative caucus looks screwed politically either way. How can they defend a $700 million increase to their right-wing constituents who don't believe in any government programs or taxes or, probably, anything other than themselves? They'll be battling the casino industry and the Culinary Union on one side and the right-wing kooks on the other. Why not at least get gaming off your back by holding your nose and voting for the $860 million?

That's not what will happen, though. Here's how I see this scenario playing out when legislators reconvene in a second special session June 25. Guinn finally will agree to reopen the budget, some difficult and damaging cuts will be made and a tax package in the low to mid-$700 million range will be approved. The Legislature will declare victory, and everyone who watched this disaster unfold will laugh in disgust. The school districts will be able to muddle through with minimal cuts and larger class sizes and fewer extracurricular programs, and Nevada will continue to rank in the bottom fourth in the nation in just about every important educational and social category. The state will continue to fail to attract high-tech and other non-service investment because it's educational system is severely underfunded. This is what Bob Beers wants, and, thanks to the Sunbelt conservatism that is gaining ground in Nevada, that is what we all will get.

By the way, this is what passes for optimism in Nevada politics. Surely things could go bad again and the state government and schools could be shut down July 1. Then we could have some judge craft the state budget for us. Hey, it worked for the 2000 presidential election, right?

--GEOFF SCHUMACHER