(Todd Taxpayer Bailey) – For a second time on April 27, I challenged my opponent in the race for Senate District 4, Ben Kieckhefer, to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.
It is simply not enough to make empty verbal promises to the voters in Senate District 4, or anywhere in Nevada, on the topic of taxes. Too many political leaders in the Nevada Legislature left their empty written and verbal promises on taxes at election day in 2008, and went forward with raising taxes in the 2009 legislative session. Regardless of the reasoning behind these decisions, in 2010, any statements on taxes in this election should be done in writing, it’s that simple.
Ben Kieckhefer will not put this promise in writing; he barley makes the promise verbally. In fact, he more often states that he will, “do what is right for the State of Nevada” – a similar statement from the people who raised taxes in 2009. This is why the Taxpayer Protection Pledge is so important, it forces politicians to deal with the resources they have to do the job, instead of taking someone else’s resources through taxation.
The Democrats, especially Nevada Senate candidate Sheila Leslie, are worried about what is happening in Nevada Senate District 4, however, not for any malicious destruction of property. Sheila Leslie is concerned that, “if the State Senate fills up with Republicans who are unwilling to compromise, then we are in trouble, and we will not get anywhere at all on the budget”, comments published in the Reno Gazette Journal on April 25. This is a real and legitimate concern for Sheila Leslie, and that’s why Ross Miller forbid the name Taxpayer from a Republican on the ballot, but allowed Democrat Mr. Clean. They know if I am elected, everyone in the state will take notice, and the dynamics of legislation in the Nevada Senate will have changed.
How will the Democrats develop an academic reason to raise existing taxes, and create new taxes, in Nevada, and gain the support of enough Republicans to make it happen? The Nevada Vision Stakeholders Group, of course. They will produce a report, with a new set of values for the State of Nevada, and a new tax system to enforce it. What happens to the Vision Stakeholders Report when it gets to the Nevada Senate?
Whatever the final version looks like, it will be negotiated by Republican Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio before the final vote takes place, similar to what happened in 2009. What will Ben Kieckhefer do with that report (if he’s elected), after receiving over $9,000 from Bill Raggio in campaign contributions? Unconfirmed reports have that number swelling to $90,000 in the last few weeks. Of course, if YOUR Campaign is successful, there will be a Republican majority in the Nevada Senate, and the Vision Stakeholders report will have a nice home on the shelf at the Nevada Legislature, where so many other reports are gathering dust, this one at a cost of $250,000 to the Nevada Taxpayer. Good job people (NOT!).
I have signed the No New Taxes Pledge, Ben will not. Ben says he “Does NOT want to be marginalized, he wants to be at the table” Why would Ben want to be at the table if the Nevada Taxpayer is the main dish? Ben’s desire NOT to be marginalized is a statement of FEAR, fear of leadership. That’s what is wrong with the Nevada Senate today, a tyranny of fear.
I will not bring fear, I will bring respect to the Nevada Senate, respect for the process. My friends, there is nothing to fear, we voted for term limits, and the time has come. It’s time for new leadership in the Nevada Senate, and if I’m elected I will bring that leadership, without increasing taxes. I put it in writing, and Ben Kieckhefer should do that too. It’s what the voters in Senate District 4 want, and deserve. Can Ben do it? I doubt it. Documentation on contributions at www.BenForNevadaTaxes.com
