Friday, July 18, 2003 | 6:15 a.m.
WEEKEND EDITION
July 20, 2003
I owe an apology to the children of Clark County. I am one of the thousands of citizens who voted for Jim Gibbons' initiative that amended the state constitution to require a two-thirds majority in both houses of the Legislature in order for tax increases to be approved.
I am sorry, kids. I had no idea that the bill could be used in the destructive manner that it has been. A handful of right-wing recalcitrants now have a legal right to destroy majority rule in our state government.
If we can get Gibbons' initiative back before the voters again I believe the outcome would be markedly different. Now we know what they will do. There is no give-and-take negotiation any more. Now it's take and take more, probably from the lobbyists for big businesses.
I am ashamed that I bought into this fiasco. I have to face my grandchildren now and tell them this is partly my fault.
LARRY PHILLIPS
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