Editorial: Hey, what’s in it for me?

Friday, Jan. 7, 2005 | 5:28 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

January 8 - 9, 2005

Just a few weeks ago Gov. Kenny Guinn seemed uncertain about a plan by state Sen. Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, that would give Nevada taxpayers a rebate. But Guinn's initial skepticism has quickly morphed into enthusiasm. Guinn, who was sharply criticized by fellow Republicans for pushing through a record tax increase in 2003, is recommending that Nevadans receive up to $300 for every vehicle they registered in 2004, much more than Beers' original proposal of up to $100.

Guinn says that giving back to taxpayers much of the $320 million surplus projected for this fiscal year won't take money away from education and social services that he's planning for his next budget. But the claim that state spending, overall, won't get shortchanged really can't be judged until Jan. 24, which is when Guinn will release his two-year budget proposal. That document will describe in detail just how Guinn plans to fund the operations of state government. Our concern isn't just whether there is enough money in the budget to cover expenses for the next two years, however. Nevadans also need to evaluate our long-term needs, something our state has done poorly in the past, and see if the $320 million could be better spent on education, public safety and social services.

Will Guinn genuinely set aside enough money for our underfunded public schools? Will there be enough textbooks for students? Will class sizes be significantly reduced beyond just grades one through three? Will we have full-day kindergarten? Will the state provide enough funding and assistance so that children today and in the future will meet the tough requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act? Regarding higher education, will the Millennium Scholarship program have enough funding, not only to restore what's been lost but also to expand the program so that more Nevada high school graduates have a chance to attend a university in this state?

In the area of public safety, has the governor made sure that there will be considerably more money to hire state troopers and pay them better wages, so that they stay with the Highway Patrol? Further, will Guinn's budget provide enough money to relieve the mental health crisis in Las Vegas? And, in light of President Bush looking to shift more costs to the states to pay for Medicaid, a program that strains the budget already, will we have enough money to take care of this vital health insurance program for seniors and poor Nevadans? These are but a few of the areas and pent-up needs that demand attention.

Unfortunately, such a methodical and reasoned review by state legislators will be complicated by the fact that Guinn unveiled the rebate proposal several weeks before the rest of his budget will be made public. So, even though it's still a proposal, people naturally have already started figuring out how they're going to spend the money, giving the initiative the kind of momentum that will be next to impossible to stop. State legislators, in turn, understand that questioning the need for such a rebate, let alone voting against it, will entail serious political risks. This doesn't portend a very encouraging start to the 2005 Legislature, one that will begin with "What's in it for me?" instead of "What's best for the people of Nevada?"