(Todd Taxpayer Bailey) – Even though Democrats often say, “the idea that Democrats want to raise taxes is unfounded,” that’s exactly what they did in the Assembly Taxation Committee on Monday morning, just past the half-way point of the 2011 Nevada Legislature. So much for those unfounded campaign promises.
The strongest voice for a Corporate Income Tax of 4.5% was, of course, the Nevada Teachers Union. In fact, the highly paid lobbyist for the Nevada Teachers Union claimed, “doing business in Nevada is a privilege, to serve the education needs of our state, and corporations should be happy to pay more”, Craig Stevens said.
Later Mr. Stevens admitted he had never run a business, never made a payroll, and had no clue what was involved, but said none of this mattered as education needs should be considered above all other considerations. This is the view of the Nevada Teachers Union, along with most others in public education, and explains why our education system is where it is today in Nevada.
Under current Nevada law, it is the exact opposite of what Mr. Stevens is claiming. Teachers are public employees; they work for the taxpaying voters of the State of Nevada, not the other way around. The people of Nevada decide how much money is available for education, not the Teachers Union. This does not stop every publicly funded educational institution in Nevada from spending millions in tax dollars a the Legislature to get more tax dollars. This is the Taxpayers Merry-Go-Round, a non-stop ride to get more of YOUR money.
AB336 is very interesting in that it is so telling on the real motivations behind Democrat initiatives. While spending the last three years vilifying the mining industry for not paying enough in taxes, and occasionally gaming for the same crime, both are specifically EXEMPTED from the new 4.5% tax in Section 20 without any explanation. Clearly, this is an attack on Nevada businesses to fund the Teachers Union and other pet projects while excluding the very industries Democrats claim are not paying enough. Double Speak at it’s finest, and you’ll pay for it.
AB336 would create a Nevada IRS that would investigate every aspect of your personal financial life if you desire the “privilege” of doing business in Nevada to serve the Teachers Union. You would be required to file even more documents than you already do, pay more fees, and even face criminal prosecution if you do not comply with the new Nevada IRS that Democrats want to create.
Representatives from the retail, farming, business communities all said the same thing: If AB336 passes, employers will have basically one option, lay off employees to make up the difference, which would result in fewer jobs. Future investment in new jobs would also suffer, especially for small businesses trying expand. Democratic Legislators seemed unmoved by the testimony, even insulted in some cases.
So while Democrats often claim they are helping the average Nevadan trying to make it in these exceptional economic times, the reality of AB336 is protection for the most powerful in Nevada, while creating roadblocks for the average Nevada business person to expand and create new jobs. This policy would result in more social dependency, and less economic expansion.
All to enjoy the “privilege of doing business in Nevada,” to support the Teachers Union, according to their representative Craig Stevens. During his testimony, Mr. Stevens acknowledged he does not have an economics degree, otherwise he would be able to recognize this policy for what it is, Socialism.
A vote for AB336 is a vote for Socialism, and that “privilege” to do business might move, or never even come, to Nevada. Is that what Democrats in Nevada really want? Democrats in the Nevada Legislature think so.
(Todd Taxpayer Bailey is the producer of The Capitol Chronicle.)
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