CANDID CANDIDATE: An e-Interview with Ira Hansen

(Nancy Dallas) – Ira Hansen is running for the Assembly District 32 seat (Portions of Humboldt, Lander and Washoe Counties), formerly held by Don Gustavson. Don is now running for a State Senate seat. You can learn more about Ira’s background and political positions at www.irahansen.com

* You have been rather deeply involved with politics for many years, as a newspaper columnist, radio commentator, et al. Is this is your first run for an elected office? Why did you decide to run for the State Assembly?

Not the first. I ran for the same office 18 years ago (in 1992). I decided to run for the Assembly after spending a lot of time at the 2009 legislature and noticing a near absence of non-government, non-lawyer, ordinary citizens making the decisions.

• Do you have a ‘campaign team’ and a ‘game plan’ in place?

Yes, although a “campaign team” sounds a bit more formal than we are. Our campaign manager is Diana Hoffman, our fundraising director is Senator Maurice Washington and my wife and children make up the bulk of the folks who do the grunt work. Yes, we have a game plan and it is very basic.

• How much money do you intend to commit to this campaign? Will you be putting your own money into your effort? How much?

My personal financial commitment is substantial and I will also fund raise to the best of my ability – without compromising my integrity. How much I can raise remains to be seen.

• What personal attributes/experience do you think would best serve you as a newcomer to the State Legislature?

I am not really a “newcomer” to the legislature. I have not missed a legislative session in 22 years and have been both a “press watchdog” and a private non-paid lobbyist. My business, family and personal background will be a solid foundation to make sound decisions from.

• What will be your three (3) major issues? Explain your position on each. (These may be duplicated in some of the following questions. I will sort that out when we see what you have to say.)

Major issues:

1. Improving existing government services. This will revolve around Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission implementation. Savings of up to $700 million is possible in the first year.

2. Taxation. The current push is to expand business taxes of various types. Total State spending has climbed from 5.5 to 9.4 billion between 2000 – 2009. Government needs to tighten its belt just as we in the private sector have.

3. Immigration. Illegal aliens are a huge drain and with 13% unemployment are a burden on citizens and legal immigrants who must compete with them.

• Nevada will be facing some major budget decisions in the 2011 Legislative session. You indicate you would not want to raise taxes. What would be your priorities in balancing a budget that is estimated to have a deficit of approximately $2 billion?

Priorities will be SAGE implementation (which did not touch about 70% of total State spending) and then a similar program based around the upcoming “Blue Ribbon” educational task force reviewing K-12 and Nevada State High Education. 56% of total State spending is education related and enhancing efficiency there will be a top goal.

• Do you support privatizing particular government services? If so, what services do you believe would be best suited to privatization?

I favor the “yellow page” approach. If a service is provided by the private sector then government should use competitive bidding processes to cut costs. In the current economic climate no service should be exempt.

• How would you address the issue of increasing government accountability to the public?

The larger the bureaucracy grows the more out of touch it becomes. Utilize bipartisan “sunset commissions” to review existing laws including NRS’, NACs and existing boards and commissions for obsolescences and redundancy.

• Would you support the sun-setting of those tax increases approved by the 2009 legislature with a 2011 sunset date? Elaborate.

I would not automatically vote yes or no without a review of impacts and needs. However, if the revenue did not exist prior to 2009 then absolutely it should be sun setted. Spending grew in the last decade at a pace much greater than both inflation and population growth would justify. Today we simply cannot afford to spend as we did even five years ago. The economic base to tax is simply not there.

• What entities under the state’s purview do you consider to be ineffective, unnecessary, or failed programs? Explain.

Government does not have a market based discipline so by its very nature it tends to be less efficient. The SAGE Commission studied numerous State agencies and thanks to direct input from the government employees came up with enhancements to streamline and improve programs while not eliminating basic services. That is clearly the direction we willingly or unwillingly, are heading.

• As a legislator, what would you propose doing to encourage bringing greater diversity to Nevada’s economy? How would you ‘empower the private sector in order to get Nevadans working again?

California gives us a picture perfect scenario of where endless government spending, regulation and taxation leads. Government creates the environment business functions in and by keeping minimal and reasonable levels of taxation and regulation we will attract businesses and the jobs they create. Passing business income taxes, gross receipts taxes, service taxes and similar proposed taxation in effect punishes success and will drive away the very diversification engine we need to grow our way out of our economic collapse.

• What do you see as the best means of providing sustainable, affordable energy to Nevada?

The best means is the private sector. Energy is abundant in the U.S. yet is stifled by various government imposed roadblocks. As one fuel rises in cost, other types become more competitive and the “unseen hand” of the free market supplies customer demand.

• Would you support the transporting of water rights from one water basin/governmental entity to another in order to support the demands of growth?

Tough question. From a purely economic perspective if a resource can be purchased and transported into a high demand area profitably it should be allowed. However, the taking of water from Eastern Nevada and transporting it to Southern Nevada will delay and even kill the future economic development potential of Eastern Nevada.

• Would you support labor negotiations between local governments and union employees to be subject to the open meeting law? Elaborate.

Of course. It is a process that should be open to public scrutiny. After all it is the taxpayer’s money we are negotiating over.

• A good portion of your northwest Nevada district is quite rural. What role do you believe the State should play in the management of Nevada’s public lands?

I am a “Sage Brush Rebellion” supporter and believe the Federal government’s ownership of 87% of Nevada has greatly retarded the natural economic diversity of Nevada. The BLM and USFS have become increasingly controlled from the top down with decision making being made in Washington D.C. and not reflecting the on the ground reality affecting the people who actually live on the land. If I had a magic wand the functions of the Federal land management agencies would be transferred to State of Nevada agencies which would place Nevada on an equal footing with her sister states.

• Do you support schools of choice? School vouchers? To what degree do you believe the State should support these programs?

I support any programs that implement a market driven competitive environment. Charter schools, vouchers, home schooling and all others that allow parents a major say will create a much stronger incentive for public school improvement than “no child left behind” type legislation.

• What would you promote to improve the performance of Nevada’s public school students?

We have tried numerous methods in Nevada over the last several decades, most of which involved expanding spending, with little to no improvements noted. By using the solutions and innovations created by market/consumer driven change and experimentation we will find what works and what does not. The improvements will benefit all, public and private.

• Would you support an effort in the Nevada legislature similar to the immigration law recently passed by the Arizona legislature? Elaborate.

Yes, I will gladly sponsor or co-sponsor such legislation. It should be noted the community most affected, Hispanics, support by 56% the Arizona law. It is truly ironic we debate that being illegal should be against the law. The failure of the Federal Government to protect our borders has forced the Sates to do what is necessary to protect their own citizens and enforce the law.

• Is there an issue I failed to address that you would like to expound upon? Go for it………..

You were pretty thorough. The only big ones you did not directly address are unfunded mandates and unfunded State liabilities especially retirement programs. Unless the economy dramatically grows how we pay those bills coming due, which are basically contracts without funding mechanisms, is a huge problem no one has any simple answers for. We cannot simply print money like the Feds do. We have a balanced budget amendment in our State Constitution. That will be a huge Damoclean sword hanging over future legislator’s heads.