Seniors calling for Whopper of a sales tax

Friday, May 24, 2002 | 10 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A state-sanctioned group of senior citizens has called for a tax on Big Macs, Whoppers and other fast foods to help finance projects for the aged, including the Senior Rx prescription drug program.

The Nevada Silver Haired Legislative Forum Thursday voted to back a suggestion that a one-half percent sales tax be imposed on products sold at fast food restaurants.

Margaret Spooner, a member of the forum, said she is trying to find a "painless way" to raise money for elderly programs.

"This would not hurt anybody very much," she said.

Spooner, of Reno, said fast food restaurants generate $686 million in yearly sales. The industry is described as "limited-service eating places" that don't have waitresses and take the customer's cash first before delivering the product.

Forum President Robert McCune of Las Vegas said, however, it would be difficult to get new taxes passed by the 2003 Legislature. The Senior Rx drug prescription program, because of a lack of money, is now limited to 7,000 low-income elderly. It is financed through the tobacco settlement fund.

The 21-member forum rejected a suggestion that called for the start of a multistate lottery to raise money to enhance senior citizen programs.

Virgil Getto, a former assemblyman and senator from Churchill County, said that proposal had been considered many times in the past and rejected.

The forum also recommended that senior programs receive more money from the tobacco settlement program.

In other action the forum voted to suggest a law to require nursing homes meet a minimum standard of nursing hours per resident per day. It accepted the recommendation of Mark A. Morrow, founding partner of the Nursing Home Justice Center, that there be 3.2 nursing staff hours per resident per day.

This would be calculated figuring the times of registered nurses, licensed practice nurses/licensed vocational nurses and certified nursing assistants.

Morrow presented statistics in April to the forum stating that the average nursing time per day per resident in Nevada was 1.1 hours. He said that is lower than other states.

Charles Perry, executive director of the organization of nursing homes, challenged those figures and said more nursing time is spent on patients.

Getto, saying a shortage of nurses exists, questioned how that goal could be achieved. He also said it would raise the cost to nursing homes.

Forum member Bonnie Bryan of Las Vegas said the start of the nursing program at the Nevada State College in Henderson could alleviate that problem. The college is scheduled to open in September.

The forum also wanted the law tightened on exploitation of senior citizens. Evelyn Cannestra of Las Vegas said money is often unfairly drained from the elderly, sometimes even by their family members.