By Jon Ralston

Published Monday, May 11, 2009 | 2:12 p.m.

Updated Monday, May 11, 2009 | 2:14 p.m.

Jim Uster is now furious about selling off the tobacco settlement. He penned this letter to the governor:

Dear Governor Gibbons,

Selling our Tobacco Settlement money is akin to eating our seed corn. Your proposal to trade our hard-earned Tobacco Settlement annuity for a fraction of its value is fiscally shortsighted and harmful to citizens. The Tobacco Settlement money funds services that help Nevada's children go to college and assists lower income elderly and disabled in affording the outrageous cost of prescription drugs as well as lending them a hand with services that keep them in their own homes instead of costly nursing homes.

Without Tobacco Settlement money the Senior and Disability Rx programs will go unfunded over the long term. This will create hardship and suffering for thousands of Nevada seniors and disabled who will no longer be able to afford their medications. The Settlement money also funds the Independent Living Grants that keep elderly and disabled Nevadans living in the community, so that our State's most vulnerable will not be forced into nursing homes. Nursing home placement for these Nevadans would cost the state much more than providing these services.

In addition, without the Tobacco Settlement funds, the smaller community agencies and businesses that provide this assistance are likely to be forced out of business, doing further damage to an already fragile economy.

We cannot balance the budget on the backs of our State Employees or our state's children, elderly, sick, poor and disabled. There are none that are as blind as those who refuse to see and Governor you are blind as a bat.

Another question that begs to be asked is how many times did you send text messages to your wife the month you sent 700 plus messages to your "Woman Friend" governor? We the people were and are paying you to conduct the people’s business you seem to have lost sight of that since you were so busy texting your "Woman Friend".

Again as a Past Clark County Republican Party Chairman, taxpayer and someone that voted for you I call for you to step down; you are not fit to serve the fine people of this state. As I told you to your face at the Lincoln Day Dinner I will do everything in my power to see that you are a one term governor even if I have to vote for a democrat.

Sincerely

James H. Uster

Past Chairman

Clark County Republican Party