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Published Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 | 9:26 p.m.
Updated Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 | 9:27 p.m.
That was the gist of Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford's response to Gov. Jim Gibbons' State of the State:
Good evening and thank you for listening. I’d like to speak to you for a few minutes not solely as Majority Leader of the State Senate but as a Nevadan, a husband and father of three young children. We just heard from the Governor what WE know all too well. Our State, the nation, and indeed the world, have been facing enormous challenges. Many Nevadans have endured previously unimaginable hardships.
Every one of us, or someone close to us, has felt the impact of declining value in our homes. Some of our neighbors have lost their homes altogether. We all know someone who has lost a job, his or her life savings, and health insurance.
In the past two years, families across Nevada have had to make tough financial decisions and choices….
· Delaying medical care,
· Putting off going to college, and
· Choosing between buying fewer groceries, medications and paying utilities.
Painful, difficult but necessary choices.
And just like you and so many Nevada families, in the past two years, the State of Nevada - the place we call home - has also had to make tough financial decisions. When I consider the choices so many families all across Nevada are making in their homes, I think about what it really means. It means making sacrifices to give our children and our loved ones what they need and explaining why we can’t give them what they want. It means prioritizing spending on the items that matter most, while scaling back on the non-essentials. It means not leaving things worse off for future generations to deal with.
93% of state government funds education, health and human services and public safety. The only difference between all of us and our state government is the choices made in state government don’t affect just some children, or some families or a few businesses. Those choices impact all of us as Nevadans. As state legislators, we take that responsibility very seriously.
Our State government’s budget is approximately $870 million short. And that’s only part of the problem. Next year, we have close to a 50% shortfall to JUST maintain our schools, health care and public safety.
- PAUSE -
There is no magical formula or one simple solution to solve this problem.
Yes, the Governor has asked departments throughout the State to cut their budgets from 10 percent. The truth is, despite that plan, it won’t be enough to balance the budget. And the effects of these recommended cuts could result in the closure of a state prison, reduction of services to the elderly, and would roll back decades of progress that has been made to improve mental health, K-12 and higher education, further jeopardizing the general welfare and safety of all of us.
Sadly, my fellow Nevadans, the parts of our budget I never imagined would be vulnerable to further cuts, like education, now are. And unless other solutions are identified, there is a real possibility that thousands of teachers and educational personnel could be laid off throughout Nevada. We know this is unacceptable. Just as unacceptable is the prospect of increasing class sizes in already overcrowded schools.
Here are some of the choices state government and school superintendents are working to decide:
· Moving construction funds to classroom needs today,
· Reducing the school year,
· And opening current teacher and administrator contracts for further wage reductions.
Unlike the Governor’s ill-conceived proposal to initiate vouchers, which is unconstitutional and will further decimate funding of our public schools, we believe the morally right thing to do is guarantee a quality education for every child.
Some of the ideas we propose to scale back these massive cuts to education, include:
· Stopping state agency subsidies at the expense of our children’s education,
· Enforcing the payment of uncollected taxes that are contributing to the state’s shortfall, and
· Ensuring that mining and other industries pay their fair share of fees and are part of the solution.
In non-education areas:
Reducing professional and service contracts, such as advertising, accounting and management contracts, by 5, 10 and 15 percent,
Operating some state services only four-days a week,
Scaling back hours of operation in others; and
Closing buildings and departments where we must.
This will directly impact you because services will be reduced, response times delayed and programs compromised.
Before I go on, I want to take a moment to thank the thousands of employees who work in all areas of state government. From the nurse who operates health clinics in rural Nevada to the corrections officer in our prisons; from teachers to groundskeepers and everything in between, we know these cuts impact you, your livelihood and your commitment to serve the public.
And like you, Senators and Assemblymen throughout Nevada, Democrats and Republicans alike, are committed like never before to work together, to reach out to the Governor, and to seek ideas from all corners of our State to get through this crisis.
-PAUSE-
And while many of us believe Nevada needs a broader, more stable and fair tax structure, during this recession, I will not support raising taxes. But like many of you, after the level of cuts proposed and because Nevada already ranks near the bottom of everything that matters, when we do recover from this economic recession, we must enact a broader, more stable and fair tax structure. Period.
So, while some level of cuts will occur now, as we move forward, we will enact revenue reform that is:
· fair, broad-based and equitable,
· ensure all businesses, banks and big corporations, pay their fair share,
· and protects small businesses and homeowners.
After two years of decline and facing a $3 billion shortfall next year to fund important services, it is time for us to look ahead. We must invest in economic growth and expansion. And we must learn from the mistakes of the past so that we never return to this period of time where we are forced to choose between meeting our basic obligations and investing in our future.
And while we manage the budget crisis at hand, we must continue to position our state for the opportunities that lie ahead. The national economy is changing and with it, Nevada is poised to attract new industries that could lead us out of these economic doldrums and help us reduce our reliance on gaming and tourism alone.
You elected us to make these decisions, and we will, but we want to hear your ideas and your thoughts and welcome your voice in the process.
Public budget hearings will be held in Las Vegas and Carson City throughout this week and this Saturday there will be town hall meetings in Reno and Las Vegas.
We encourage your participation
Are eager to hear your opinions and we will answer your questions openly and honestly (PAUSE)
In these difficult times it is more important than ever to respect each other’s opinions and seek common solutions.
And finally my fellow Nevadans, I am convinced, together we will navigate through this crisis - there will be sacrifice and pain. But in the end, we will pull out of this ditch and put our State back on the road of prosperity and opportunity. (PAUSE)
Every one of us goes through tough times in life. Sometimes it is the strength we show in the tough times that gives us the confidence and character to build a better tomorrow. Together, we can build a Nevada that has a more sound fiscal footing, a Nevada with a diversified economy producing quality careers for our people and a world-class education for our children. Working in partnership, we can remake our state into a place where everyone has a chance to succeed. The choices we make today and tomorrow will lay the foundation for the state we call home, a home where all its’ citizens share in her success. Thank you and good night.
Well, at least he didn't treat state employees like they were enemies. Gibbons hates government and treats its employees like the plague.
Gibbons, however, does love his ongoing government paychecks and health benefits. He's been sucking at the public trough his whole life.
Ugh... Horsford is such a TOOL. Could he pander any more to the unions and the edutards that have destroyed our economy and our educational system in Nevada? Not to mention he's dead wrong on nearly EVERY SINGLE ISSUE.
What kinds of IDIOTS raise taxes $1b in a recession? STEVEN HORSFORD and BARBARA BUCKLEY - that's who! If we have an 800b shortage now, it stands to reason that had they not raised taxes by 1b, we would have $200m liquid right now. Our handicapped space loving Senator here seems to have skidded over that little fact in his rhetoric tonight.
Of even more interest is the fact that at least 1/2 if not more of the revenue shortfall can be DIRECTLY attributed to the arrogance of Horsford, Segerblom, Buckley, Raggio and other idiots in the state that passed the doubling of the business license in mid-2009 despite being emailed and called by thousands of affluent businessowners and tourists that said they would leave Nevada forever if they passed it. Horsford gave a loud and clear, "get lost" to these businesses. Now, as predicted, not only is that commercial filing revenue gone forever, but more importantly the gaming, hotel, sales tax, and other hundreds of millions in revenue that left with it.
As I've said before... Nevada's recession STARTED in October 2009. The worst is yet to come, and there isn't going to be any recovery - they have just wiped our best customers off the map and they aren't coming back. This will cost the state BILLIONS in the years to come.
Had you told me 3 years ago that Gibbons would be the only one in Carson City making any sense, I would have laughed in your face, but here we are, and Gibbons is the only one that makes ANY sense - and it's true what he said... had the legislature gone with the governor's recommendation and not overridden his vetos, Nevada would not be in this position right now.
Let the news ring the air.....Democrats want to another round of massive tax increases in the next regular session.
Horsefood represents the parasite class, what do you expect from him?
Spare us the garbage Horsford, Nevadans have heard enough of your spew and spew from others like you for years. Only thing different between you and Gibbons is that you dont cheat on your wife. Vote nonpartisan for governor and every other office that has non partisan candidates Nevadans.. Finally heed my warning or we will have 4 more years of Reid (Daddy's boy responsible for 180 million a year in firefighter salaries), Sandoval (Mr. I have been appointed to everything my whole life) and better yet four more years of Gibbons (I am adulterer). Seeing as that Northern Nevada put Gibbons in office because Southern Nevada did not hardly vote, SN needs to step up.
Once again, vote nonpartisan for governor and every other office that has non partisan candidates Nevadans..
I'm not sure how some of you or the Governor determine that raising 1B in taxes has created a 1B deficit. Sounds like Fuzzy Math. The truth you don't want to think about is that our current tax structure was based on tourism and construction, which are the two hardest hit sectors of our economy. No amount of tax incentives could salvage what is being lost there. Our state's economy for the past twenty years has blindly assumed growth and tourism would last for ever and always be able to pay the bills while the truth is that for the past twenty years there has been continually less per capita for government services since the tax structure couldn't match inflation and population growth. Our current crisis was coming with or without a national recession. We now have to decide if we want to invest in a future or become an empty wasteland ignored by the rest of the country.
LVmach,
The governor said raising $1 billion in taxes didn't work. It didn't work because you took $1 billion out of the productive wealth producing part of the economy and gave it to fund what turned out to be a largely unproductive and bloated government.
In the past 10 years, btw, our government growth more than matched inflation plus population. Btw, we are also ranked 25th in tax collection per capita.
Let me say it first, Sen. Horsford will be Governor someday. And, I will vote for him.
Patrick,
Have you thought about becoming Sue Lowden's campaign manager or trusted "advisor"?
She is a HUGE advocate of LOWERING taxes to save our economy. Right now, she wants to LOWER taxes. Trickle-Down Economics. (read; TAX CUTS for the wealthy/big business).
Of course, that means cutting TONS of state/county/city employees...How cool is that! You kill 2 birds with one stone!
Personally, I have had enough "Reaganomics" to last me a lifetime, and I think the American people have wisened up to this sort of scheme that lines the pockets of the richest of the rich, but never quite "trickles down" to us working folks.
Sue Lowden is a hypocrite. She voted to raise our taxes 7 times while serving in Carson City. Now she claims to be against all taxes. You can't have it both ways.
She's just like Gibbons, talking out both sides of her mouth. I love how Gibbons is personally paying for an award for a special teacher, but doesn't respect them enough to give them a decent wage. Like any teacher would except an award for fear of being stabbed in the back at the reception.
Vote out every slug who wants to raises our taxes instead of cutting government. Period.
Better yet, NO INCUMBENTS IN NOVEMBER.
I can't believe that people in this State complain about "all the taxes" that they have to pay.
We are going to look up one day, and the only people left in this State will be old people who don't want to pay taxes, but sure do bitch and moan when they don't get "their services."
All the young people are leaving to get a decent education and a decent job. And yes, they are moving to other States with higher taxes.
You get what you pay for.
One day, when you pick up the phone to call for an ambulance and the ambulance arrives late, due to cuts in services, because you don't want to pay taxes, are you going to sue the County/City/State? This exact scenerio is happening in Florida as we speak.
Continue with your mantra of "no taxes", "we don't need no stinking government workers", and "why do we need to educate someone else's kids" and see where it gets you.
Gotta agree with gingerlee - we don't pay a state tax, and we don't pay other ridiculous subsidies many other states do pay.
You complain about Horsford because he is a Democrat. Doesn't matter who it is - the minute the person says the words "spending" and "taxes", you all go nuts.
I'm not saying I agree with Horsford completely, and he was extremely broad with his ideas, but both are at fault.
All Gibbons and the Legislature have are "plans" - neither have any idea what to do.
But rather than moan and complain when those two magic words show up - why not write to your legislature or better yet find someone who can do what you want them to do and have THEM run!
It's a democracy - speak up for that, instead of complaining about taxes - many Nevadans are here now because they were tired of paying state and other taxes ELSEWHERE!
In another Sun article today: "Horsford is on record supporting broad-based tax reform, but said a special session with just two weeks to prepare is not the time to do it."
And when is the time to do it? Never is the time to do it here.
I tried being a Democrat for a while, but I will never again be either a Republican or Democrat. The Democrats think teachers have nowhere to go politically, and will never vote for Republicans. If that were true, this dingbat wouldn't be governor. If Democrats can't support their own constituency (with exceptions I won't name here - but teachers are not one of those exceptions) then don't be surprised when you lose your seats. At least the Republicans are honest instead of hypocrites. But I will vote for third party as much as possible.
S Horsford, where were you during the last regular session? Why didn't you take care of it then?
According to Horsford, students are "smart enough," but the schools are failing them. Horsford has no respect for teachers. He's from the school of entitlement, where students have no responsibility for themselves, and teachers should do everything but wipe their butts. There is apparently no difference in student aptitude in Horsford's world - everybody's a genius! - and if students watch video games instead of doing homework, and laugh at how the government spends money on them even though they do nothing, that's because "the schools" are "failing" them.
Neff: 'She said Democrats should go with a simple message: "Tax mining, tax Wal-Mart." ' Maybe the Democrats should think about persuading Neff to be a leader in their party. At least she has some common sense going on.
Just as reasonable Republicans need to distance themselves from their religious fanatics, responsible Democrats need to distance themselves from those who want to keep subsidizing laziness, irresponsibility, illegal immigration, and teen parenthood.
New party, anyone?