(Michael Chamberlain/Nevada Business Coalition) – Republican state senators have sent a letter to Governor Brian Sandoval expressing their support for his budget, which does not raise taxes or fees. The letter was signed by all 10 of Nevada’s Republican senators.
As the R-J reports,
[the letter] promises, “unwavering support for your plan to balance the budget while fighting job-killing taxes.”
[…]
“We must stand strong and stand together on our core beliefs,” the Republicans wrote, adding, “We appreciate your honesty, sincerity and leadership and we stand ready and committed to working with you through the difficult challenges ahead.”
The State’s fragile economy cannot afford another round of tax increases and this would appear to close the door on that possibility. At least 3 Republicans would be needed to override a promised veto by the governor of a budget that included tax increases, assuming that all eleven Democrats voted to override, which may not be an entirely safe assumption.
Not everyone is pleased with the letter.
“How much louder can you say ‘no’,” said Sen. Sheila Leslie, D-Reno. “I don’t find that very helpful. Just repeating ‘no’ doesn’t get us any closer to a solution.”
Sen. Leslie is completely wrong about this. The governor has presented a budget proposal, which has the support of at least ten senators. It is those who oppose his budget who have simply said “no.” They have delivered no proposals in response.
Instead, they have delivered a parade of those who benefit from the flow of taxpayer dollars to urge that flow not be slowed but that the workers and businesses who have already suffered most during this recession should be caused to suffer even more.
They have delivered public employees to protest proposed concessions that pale in comparison to the cuts suffered by workers and businesses in the private sector.
They have delivered union tradesmen to demand to be provided not just any old jobs but $100,000 per year public works jobs paid for by increasing the burden on those whose pay has been cut in half in the last few years.
They have delivered students who currently pay much less for their own education than students in most states to complain that they not be asked to invest more in themselves, but that more should be invested in them by those losing their jobs and homes and businesses.
The economy of the Silver State is not going to recover by increasing the burden on its taxpayers, on its private sector employees and employers, on its wealth-producers and job-creators, on those who have been suffering the effects of this recession for years. The governor understands this. The letter from the Senate Republican caucus indicates that its members do as well. Now if only to convince some more of our Legislators so that we can move forward and get Nevada and Nevadans back on the road to prosperity.
(Michael Chamberlain is Executive Director of Nevada Business Coalition.)
