The perfect gift any time.
Nevada News & Views – November 13, 2009
Nov 13th, 2009 by TMH
By: Chuck Muth
Nevada News and Views
TODAY’S NN&V HEADLINES
- Clowns Plus Playground Equal Fun at First-Ever Kids Happy Hour (Karri Bragg) – On Tuesday evening, conservative families gathered for a little laid-back fun at Citizen Outreach Foundation’s first-ever Kids Happy Hour & Deck Party.
- Reid Enables 9/11 Mastermind To Be Brought To New York City (National Republican Senatorial Committee) – Just over one week after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) voted against a critical measure that would have barred captured terrorists from being brought onto American soil, Reid’s allies in the Obama Administration announced this morning that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-described mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, will be brought to New York City and tried in a civilian court just steps away from Ground Zero.
- The Nanny State for Pets! (Rep. John Shadegg) – Americans genuinely concerned about our nation’s health care system thought health care reform meant slowing the ever increasing cost of care, covering the uninsured and dealing with pre-existing conditions. Little did we know that Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama envisioned regulating vending machines and providing government subsidies to veterinary students.
- Heller Says Federal Stimulus Funds Not Helping Economy (Sean Whaley/Nevada News Bureau) – Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., said yesterday the federal stimulus program is not working because it is creating short-term public jobs, not sustainable private sector employment.
- Reno Chamber Hears Pros, Cons of Yucca Mountain Project (Sean Whaley/Nevada News Bureau) – Members of the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce heard a spirited debate today on the pros and cons of establishing a high level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, but no formal position is expected from the group anytime soon.
Click here to read these stories at the Nevada News & Views site!
DRIVE-BY MUTHINGS
Rediscovering the Constitution: A funny thing happened on the way to health care reform: Some folks have rediscovered the Constitution. Indeed, when a reporter asked Nancy Pelosi this week if her health care bill was constitutional, all she could muster in response was, “Are you serious?”
But serious people are now addressing that core question on health care reforms…and even other issues. Indeed, in two recent blog posts (here and here), Nevada’s liberal-in-chief Hugh Jackson invokes constitutional arguments on the health care issue and the gun rights issue.
I think Hugh’s arguments are wrong, but at least we’re now debating whether legislation is constitutional in addition to debating whether it’s “needed.” Barry Goldwater would be pleased.
The New Anointed One: Jon Ralston reports an “anointment in progress,” noting that a high-powered fundraiser for GOP gubernatorial candidate Brian Sandoval took place in Reno on Tuesday featuring ex-Gov. Kenny Guinn, state Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio, state Sen. Randolph Townsend, uber-business donors Norm Dianda, Blake Smith, Louie Damonte and Perry DiLoreto, as well as powerhouse lobbyists Mike Alonso, Pete Ernaut and Greg Ferraro.
Hey, wait a minute. Didn’t Ferraro write the inaugural address for Sandoval’s primary opponent, Gov. Jim Gibbons? I guess lobbyists such as Ferraro go where the money is, not where their principles are. Or do they even have principles? Another discussion for another day.
Budget Black-and-Blues: According to a Las Vegas Sun story yesterday, budget cutters need to cut more due to an expected $129 million budget deficit – and the average salary for Clark County government workers is $90,000.
Yikes! If the AVERAGE salary for local government employees is $90,000….I think we’ve found the problem.
Meanwhile, Nevada’s government is reportedly staring at a $2 billion budget hole next biennium, to which Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert (R-Reno) told the Las Vegas Review-Journal this week: “Last session we tried to contain the size of government.”
No she di’-in’t.
Gansert worked closely and secretly with Democrat leaders this last legislative session to come up with a general fund budget which was $800 million more than Gov. Jim Gibbons proposed! How does voting to increase the budget by $800 million in the middle of a recession equate to containing the size of government?
Heidi Gansert: Nice lady; lousy fiscal conservative. Republicans need a new leader. This one is leading them right off a cliff.
Stop, Thief! Army Military Police reservist and 3rd District congressional candidate Rob Lauer got called into civilian active duty late Wednesday night when he witnessed a guy trying to shoplift a case of beer from a Henderson-area Von’s with two clerks in hot pursuit. Lauer reportedly cut off the guy’s escape route with his car before apprehending the miscreant and holding him until the cops arrived.
Maybe Rob should run for sheriff instead?
OTHER NEWS & VIEWS
- LVRJ: Soldiers disarmed
- Morrison: Reid interviews two women for federal judgeship
- LVRJ: Despite report, higher taxes not the answer
- NPRI: Politicians will exacerbate the recession
- Sun: Stimulus job-count guidelines frustrate
- Schumacher: Montandon laments curbs on revolution
- LVRJ: Lawsuit questions language of anti-abortion initiative
- Appeal: Wiley seeks to upset Reid for Senate
Click here to read these stories at the Nevada News & Views site!
TUBE TIPS
Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley goes Face to Face with Jon Ralston tonight. The program airs on Las Vegas ONE on Cox Channel 19 at 5:30 pm, 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm.
FAMOUS LAST WORDS
- “Because of Mr. Clinton, terrorists would face more return fire if they attacked a Texas Wal-Mart than the gunman faced at Fort Hood, home of the heavily armed and feared 1st Cavalry Division.” – Washington Times editorializing on the 1993 decision by then-President Bill Clinton banning military personnel from carrying firearms on military bases
- “Captured terrorists currently held at Guantánamo Bay will be receiving the H1N1 vaccine despite a limited supply for the American population.” – National Republican Senatorial Committee
- “House Resolution 784, proposed to honor the twenty-five-hundred-sixtieth anniversary of the birth of Confucius, received a No vote from Arizona Congressman Jeff Flake. Why? Honorable Flake say: ‘He who spends time passing trivial legislation may find himself out of time to read healthcare bill.’ He has a point, and it’s worth than a fortune-cookie presentation.” – Paul Jacob of Citizen in Charge
- “No state government budget grew faster than Nevada’s from 1990 to 2007 — spending increases vastly outstripped the state’s nation-leading population growth and inflation combined. Now, with almost no population growth and significantly less economic activity, Nevada’s general fund is still growing.” – Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial today
- “I don’t for a moment believe that 4,000 teachers would have been laid off if not for the stimulus.” – Nevada state Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio
CALENDAR
- November 13: Citizen Outreach’s Chuck Muth and Elizabeth Crum will duke it out on a Media Panel with Jon Ralston and Steve Sebelius at the Leadership Las Vegas conference conducted by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. 2:30 pm at the Regional Transportation Commission offices in Las Vegas.
- November 13: U.S. Senate candidate Danny Tarkanian will be having a meet & greet lunch in Carson City at Grandma Hattie’s from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Nadine Hastings at (775) 246-4350 or just drop by to say hello if you’re in the area.
- November 14: Nevada Republican Central Committee meeting in Hawthorne.
