Friday, Jan. 17, 2003 | 6:10 a.m.
Monday night Gov. Kenny Guinn will deliver his State of the State address to state lawmakers, an event that marks the unofficial start of the upcoming legislative session. We asked a number of community leaders in Southern Nevada to tell us what policies they hope Guinn will propose for the 2003 Legislature. Following are their thoughts.
Carlos A. Garcia
Clark County School District superintendent.
Dare to be average!
That's a message I hope the governor includes in his State of the State address. While average isn't much of a goal for most things, getting to the national average for education funding would make a dramatic difference for our students.
During the last legislative session, the governor asked Nevada's school superintendents what it would take to improve the achievement of our students. We have worked throughout the interim to develop a comprehensive answer, which we call the iNVest plan (Investing in Nevada's Education, Students and Teachers). In essence, iNVest seeks adequate basic funding, the capacity to attract and retain staff, increased instructional time and increased educational opportunities for students -- all items that come with a price tag.
Concerns about education, however, go deeper than dollars and cents; they help define who we are as Nevadans. Do we want Nevada to continue to be at the wrong end of most lists that rank the quality and level of services provided by the states? Are we people who protect personal wealth and low taxes at the expense of our children's education and future?
I hope that the governor's address not only answers these questions, but also sets a tone for the legislative session that arouses in citizens and legislators the passion and courage to make changes that will enable us to continue to be proud to call Nevada home.
Bill Bible President of the Nevada Resort Association.
On Monday night Gov. Kenny Guinn reports to Nevada's leaders and citizens on the state's condition. He will surely use this occasion to articulate his vision for Nevada's future and lay out a road map to achieve that vision.
As the country's fastest-growing state, Nevada faces unprecedented challenges. The governor will detail the state's challenges in providing services to the diverse populations that it serves. But, because of lagging state revenues, the governor will also be in the uncomfortable position of asking Nevada's citizens to increase their financing of state government.
Even though the gaming industry currently provides almost 50 percent of the state's revenue, gaming, once again, is willing to help with the additional funding needs of state government. And as the governor catalogs the needs of the state, I am hopeful that he adopts his Task Force's recommendations and proposes a tax plan that is fair, that diversifies Nevada's tax base so that all economic sectors -- including gaming -- that have benefited from the Silver State's growth shoulder their responsibility for financing the state's needs, and yet also protects Nevada families from the burden of individual taxation. Recommending tax increases is never popular, but, if spread fairly, Nevada citizens and businesses should be supportive of the governor's proposals.
Paul R. Brown Southern Nevada director of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. At his State of the State address, Gov. Kenny Guinn should talk about tires. Imagine the state as a car racing down a pothole-filled highway with four bald tires. Some lawmakers are on a joy ride thinking that nothing is wrong and that we can get some more mileage out of our worn-out tires.
Maybe. But maybe they'll blow out, and we'll crash and burn. Wouldn't it be wiser to spend money now and prevent a disaster later? We need $700 million in tax increases just to maintain the below-mediocre funding for education and social services that we currently provide.
One of those bald and patched tires represents Nevada's education funding. Our per-pupil funding is at least $1,000 below the national average. Even Mississippi spends more on its children's education than we do.
Other tread-bare tires include our Medicaid spending. We rank dead last: 51st. That is after the so-called enhancements that Assemblyman Bob Beers wants to cut out. Add to the list our lack of health insurance for kids, and the pittance of funding we provide to people with disabilities.
It's time to raise taxes. We need new tires.
Jacob Snow General manager of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada. '
On Nov. 5 Southern Nevada voters spoke. They want improved roadways, better transit and improved air quality -- exactly what a citizens group recommended to the Regional Transportation Commission. The recommendation evolved into Question 10, an advisory ballot question approved by the voters.
Based on a Texas Transportation Institute analysis, congestion costs every commuter at least $300 a year in wasted time -- on top of what it costs in wasted fuel and polluted air. Question 10 would provide $2.7 billion over 25 years in local funding, and at least an equal amount in federal matching funds.
But we have not yet cleared all the hurdles. We must have legislative support. We ask Gov. Kenny Guinn to help us put our money where our votes are. We ask that he urge the Legislature to approve the transportation initiatives quickly and responsibly.
If we continue along the dangerous path we are on today, we not only face the grim prospect of gridlocking our community, but as well the economy of the entire state. With the support of the governor and legislative leaders, our journey will surely take us to a destination we want to reach.
Dr. Rudy Manthei Organizer of Keep Our Doctors in Nevada.
In July the Legislature, determined to solve the liability insurance crisis threatening our medical system, met in a special session. For three days they debated a bill proposed by Gov. Kenny Guinn. The governor and Legislature created a law that is a step in the right direction, but they must do more. We know, from other states' experiences, which reforms work and which don't. The governor and the Legislature should modify Nevada's bill in ways that are working elsewhere.
The governor and the Legislature should set reasonable limits on attorney's fees, because it's the injured patient that needs help. Damages should be compensated, but only once to stop double-dipping. Costs that occur in the future should be paid in the future. Caps on noneconomic damages need to be limited, so exceptions should be stopped and the limits made real. In addition, no one should be responsible to pay for damages caused by someone else, so there should be fair-share liability.
In other states, these provisions are working to protect patients and the medical system. Our governor and the Legislature should enact them. Nevadans deserve no less.
Dean Hardy Past president of the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association.
Gov. Kenny Guinn showed courage and leadership by mandating a special legislative session in 2002 to deal with rising medical malpractice insurance premiums for doctors. But just months after the passage of medical "tort reform," several medical-malpractice insurance carriers are asking for rate increases.
There are physicians who would suggest that the new law simply did not go far enough. To them I would suggest that the relationship between insurance premiums and the civil justice system is nonexistent. Premium costs are more closely tied to the economy. During economic boom times, insurers artificially keep premiums deflated so as to garner more of the market share. Those premium dollars are then invested and the return on investment is sufficient to cover whatever losses might be attributable to claims experience.
The governor and the Legislature will find that the answer to the problem of skyrocketing medical-malpractice premiums does not lie with further limits on malpractice victims' access to justice. Insurance-industry reform, medical-error reporting and disciplining problem physicians must be part of a comprehensive legislative inquiry if we are to assist our medical community. Evaluating and increasing managed-care reimbursement rates for physicians must also be included during any review of this area. Additionally, serious consideration must be given to expanding the responsibility of Nevada's Insurance Division to effectively regulate the insurance industry.
Limiting Nevadans' access to justice will not reduce medical-malpractice insurance premiums. This is a multifaceted problem and the solutions must be multifaceted as well.
Carol Harter President of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the state face the same challenge during the 2003-2005 biennium: How do we provide for and educate a rapidly growing population?
Nevada's most pressing need is support for Gov. Kenny Guinn's tax proposals. We encourage the 2003 Legislature to adjust the tax structure so as to generate the revenue necessary to meet the state's need for strong public education at all levels.
For the state's universities and colleges, that means adequately funding the higher-education formula established by the Committee to Study the Funding of Higher Education. Lower levels of funding during the current biennium, coupled with a 3 percent budget cut, have compromised our ability to provide a quality education at a time when the demand from Nevada's students is greater than ever. Our student body last fall grew by 5.7 percent, to nearly 25,000 students.
Fortunately, we have a governor who well understands the importance of public education. We are hopeful that the governor and the Legislature will do everything possible to safeguard our economy by investing in our public schools, colleges and universities.
Linda Lera-Randle El
Executive director of Straight From the Streets, an outreach program that assists homeless people.
My time is spent with my family and the people who live on the streets of Clark County. I see the mentally ill, the homeless, the addicted. I see the veterans of war and the veterans of the streets, daily, up close and personal. Simply building more places to put them is not the answer.
Gov. Kenny Guinn and his top officials know these issues. They should say: "No more studies. Let's roll up our sleeves and take some action."
We all know there is not enough affordable housing and not enough jobs that pay livable wages. The governor must take the lead in helping us serve homeless people. Dedication, creativity and fairness -- not just money -- is needed to change their lives.
I would like to see the governor put the experience of government employees to better use -- many have been in their positions for years, and will be there after the governor leaves office. And yet the same problems drag on. The governor should say to his top officials: "Address the problems faced by people who have fallen to the bottom."
archive
