Envisioning a news conference where the governor says ‘I told you so’

By Jon Ralston

Sunday, April 19, 2009 | 2 a.m.

The shape of things to come?

Imagine it is June 1. The scene is the governor’s office. The Legislature has just concluded.

The Man Formerly Known as Governor addresses reporters:

“Thank you for being here today. I have a brief statement, and then I will take questions. It is unfortunate that legislators felt it necessary to override my veto of their nearly $650 million tax increase that will devastate our already troubled economy. I kept my contract with the people of Nevada and I was true to my slogan (points to the banner over his head): ‘The people of Nevada deserve a government that works for them, not against them.’

“I have been the only consistent person here in Carson City the past four months. Legislative leaders called my budget unsustainable. They said it would destroy the higher education system. They said I was thoughtless and cruel. And now look at what has happened: Instead of lawmakers overhauling the way state government spends and raises money, this session has ended as too many do: They threw together a tax package that makes no sense. And even then, the only substantial changes they made in my budget were to cut down those salary reductions — and they still sliced teachers’ salaries they complained about — and they restored a few programs.

“So I say here today, and I don’t relish using these words: I told you so.”

Reporter: “Governor, what do you make of the recent polls showing your approval rating is just above 50 percent and that the Legislature has a 25 percent approval rating?”

Ø: “I think the answer is pretty simple — the people get it. They get that I held the line on taxes. They get that the Legislature talked a good game but didn’t deliver on the rhetoric. Remember that Democratic timetable for action? Understandable — no one else does, either. The voters get it.”

Reporter: “Governor, all they did was double a payroll tax. There were a few other things, but even the chambers of commerce agreed to the payroll tax because small businesses were taken out. What’s the big deal?”

Ø: “What’s the big deal? I am surprised you can even ask me that question. The people of the great state of Nevada are looking for leadership. They want someone to stand up for them and to protect them, to work for them, not against them. I really like that slogan.”

Reporter: “But what do you say to people who say you are working against the public because of your cuts and your refusal to consider restoring any programs?”

Ø: “I say we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem. I say we need to get government to tighten its belt before we take money out of people’s pockets. And I would say that, with the exception of that payroll tax increase, most of the legislators agree with me. They were just stubborn when they voted to override me. I was right and they were wrong.”

Reporter: “Governor, what do you think the effect was of those people organizing ‘no new taxes’ protests every day during the final two weeks? Do you think that affected legislators?”

Ø: “Well, obviously not! But I think the news coverage of those protests may have something to do with the size of the tax increase. It might have been even larger.”

Reporter: “Governor, in their news conference today, legislative leaders said they were disappointed that you would not listen to reason, that you would not even agree to restore essential services. What’s your reaction to that?”

Ø: “My reaction? My reaction? My reaction is: I didn’t listen to reason? I told them from the day I gave my State of the State in January that if they had better ideas, I would listen. They waited until a few weeks were left in the session to come up with a tax plan? And they call that a plan? Their actions didn’t match their big talk. Mine did.”

Reporter: “Governor, what do you think of the other part of that poll, the part that shows you would beat Joe Heck and Mike Montandon handily in a Republican primary?”

Ø: “I have said before that those two gentlemen are friends of mine and if they want to seek the highest office in the state, that is their right. I think it’s fair to conclude that regular folks are happy with what we did this session. They get it. They understand. And since you bring it up, I also today want to officially announce my reelection campaign. My slogan? (He points to the banner again.) I think it’s a winner. How about you?”

Jon Ralston hosts the news discussion program “Face to Face With Jon Ralston” on Las Vegas ONE and publishes the daily e-mail newsletter “RalstonFlash.com.” His column for the Las Vegas Sun appears Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.