Letter: Special interests control Nevada

Tuesday, April 22, 2003 | 8:57 a.m.

We the people of Nevada have been forgotten. The budget is in shambles and is being "balanced" with smoke and mirrors. Special interests run the Legislature. We have a gambling industry that runs the elected people. There shouldn't be any question of raising the gaming tax significantly. Nevada has the lowest gaming tax of any state in the Union.

The claim that they are losing money is specious. They are investing heavily in Indian gaming in other states and at the same time claiming that they can't compete with the casinos in other states. They are playing both sides at the expense of the people of Nevada. The elected officials who support not increasing the gaming tax should be voted out of office in the next election. They are not representing the people of Nevada.

Another example of special interests controlling the Senate is exemplified by Senate Bill 241. This bill ensures that contractors who do shoddy work will be shielded from the home buyer by creating paper work for the home buyer and forcing the buyer to wait a significant amount of time before any action will be taken to fix the problem. The bill makes it more difficult for a home owner to file a lawsuit to protect his investment.

The above are two examples of special interests controlling the elected officials. Before this session is over we will find many more bills that will be passed sponsored by special interests.

Wake up citizens of Nevada before we lose all control of our rights.

LOU deBOTTARI Carson City