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twitterRaggio tells anti-tax legislator to ‘be a man’
Sam Morris
Senator Bill Raggio, R-Reno, asks a question during a meeting of the Interim Finance Committee in Carson City on Feb. 3.
Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009 | 12:01 p.m.
Sun archives
Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, smacked down a sophomore legislator from his own party in a letter sent Tuesday morning that told the rural Nevadan to “be a man” and not send out ghost-written, publicity-seeking missives.
Raggio, the 82-year-old Senate veteran, was responding to a letter from Assemblyman Ed Goedhart, R-Amargosa Valley, that said he would not vote to raise taxes, but offered advice to those who would.
Raggio took offense.
“Since you indicate that ‘you have no intention of voting for any tax increases of any kind’ you really have removed yourself from being any part of a potential solution to solving our serious budget crisis,” he wrote in the e-mail sent to Goedhart and all Senate and Assembly Republicans, and obtained by the Las Vegas Sun. “If we are to balance a budget and ensure delivery of ‘essential services’ taxes may be an option, albeit a last option.”
He accused Goedhart of not really penning the “4-point Fiscal Blueprint” that was posted on his blog, here.
Instead, Raggio accused conservative activist Chuck Muth of penning the letter, which suggests sunsetting tax hikes and instituting a future spending cap.
Raggio and other Senate Republicans are in a battle with others in their party.
Raggio ended the letter with this: “In the future, if you want to give me a message or talk with me, be a man and come and see me in person. I'll be more than willing to discuss these matters.”
The following is the letter from Raggio:
Assemblyman Goedhart:
This is in response to your self-titled "4 point Fiscal Blueprint" which you directed to me on February 8th.
Since you indicate that "you have no intention of voting for any tax increases of any kind" you really have removed yourself from being any part of a potential solution to solving our serious budget crisis. If we are to balance a budget and insure delivery of "essential services" taxes may be an option, albeit a last option.
I have some long term experience in this legislative process and I really don't think I benefit from the "advice" that you are offering.
Rather, I think your comments were authored by Chuck Muth and intended by you to be published for your own publicity purposes.
If you really "stand ready to work with your colleagues", I suggest you quit doing press releases, work with the majority of your own caucus, and be willing to listen to all sides of those issues. A closed mind will not help us reach the compromises that, whether you accept it or not, are part of the legislative process.
In the future, if you want to give me a message or talk with me, be a man and come and see me in person. I'll be more than willing to discuss these matters.
Senator Bill Raggio
Discussion: 11 comments so far…
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That's telling him Bill !!
The best thing you get from "term limits" is a man with nothing to lose and a legacy to gain!
When I saw the headline I thought the culprit would be that wanker, Ty Cobb.
You go Raggio.
It's time for all of our legislators to "be men" and lead. That's what you were voted in to do.
2z, you must be kidding. Raggio's legacy is already established. What he's proud enough, smart enough, and tough enough to do is tell the Luv Guv that he's dead wrong, and he isn't going to let him destroy this state. A state that Raggio has worked for most of his life to make better. I'm not a Republican, but I admire the man for his moxey, will and determination. With term limits, no person alive will ever establish the incredible legislative legacy that Raggio has deservedly earned, and one that he earned long before he smacked down a single track minded sophomore legislator. As he has been for so many of the past sessions, Bill Raggio will definitely "be the man."
Raggio is trying to lift Nevada from a Bottom 10 state to a level we all can be proud of. Good schools, top shelf colleges, and public services second to none. The goal Raggio wants for Nevada will cost more from individuals and businesses, but that is the price the Top 10 states pay, and so must we.
Well said, afvet. Very well said. If we leave it to the Goedharts of the world, we'll stay stuck and mired in the bottom 10, as we have been for much too long.
When Raggio was running in the primary against Sharron Angle, he promised he would not raise taxes. Now that he won the election, he is flip flopping and going back on his promise. Isn't that the same as lying? Typical Rino Raggio.
He has no right to speak to a fellow legislator in that manner. Raggio is the one who needs to learn to how to 'be a man'. 'Real' men have better manners than that.
I heard he is going to vacate his seat before the end of the term so he can appoint his hand puppet to the job. Hopefully this isn't just another broken promise!
SKIER...
Thank God at least someone on the right up there in the Capitol has a clue. The old man is not stupid. As for saying he wouldn't raise taxes;
I guess extraordinary circumstances dictate he deviate from his original stated position. Good for him for seeing the forest for the trees & doing the right thing when he knows people like you will rip him.
Let me clue you all in: YOU CANNOT CUT TAXES AND SPEND MONEY LIKE REPUBLICANS!
It seems Raggio finally figured this out; thank god!
Bush and the rest of the fake conservative Republicans were spending money like drunken sailors in Hongkong whore houses. Bush spent more money than all other Presidents in the history of this country combined together LoL.
And did it while cutting taxes and piling up a Mt. Everest of debt!
Raygunnutics & Rush Limboggle solutions are so fiscally irresponsible & ignorant it's utterly laughable. And they surely are not conservative nor do they benefit small business!
Republicans took away our freedoms with Patriot Act. Essentially gutting Due Process of Law. Then government was expanded to record levels under Big Fat Spender Baby Bush.
Raygun was another big spending government expansion Fake Conservative too!
Waste- "No Bid" contracts to Halliburton & KBR!
With declines in property and gaming taxes Nevada is just going to have to pay the Piper for the Republicans big spending!
And Unfortunately taxes are going to have to be raised.
Right on Bill! I think that the constituency in District 36 was better represented when the last Assemblyman (Rod Sherer)resigned, and the position was vacant. I'm referring to that void between the two of them. Sometimes the constituency is better served with "none" than someone who's goal is self benefitial!