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twitterTHE LEGISLATURE:
Looking back: Horsford earns praise for performance
Saturday, June 6, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Steve Marcus
State Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, left, and outgoing Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley.
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- Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, talks about resistance to the concept of a net profit tax.
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- Horsford on the work done by legislators to preserve education funding.
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- Horsford on questions asked by those supporting a net profits tax.
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- Horsford talks about building support for a broader tax base.
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- Horsford talks about new people in his caucus sharing his vision.
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Senator Bill Raggio, R-Reno, asks a question during a meeting of the Interim Finance Committee in Carson City on Feb. 3.
Sun Coverage
Sun Archives
- Horsford seeking education overhaul (3-15-2009)
- Good week of work for Horsford (3-14-2009)
- Gibbons says he hopes Legislature strikes bipartisan tone (2-2-2009)
- Our change politician? (6-21-2008)
- Horsford: Neal left 'enormous shoes to fill' in Senate 4 (9-8-2004)
A bit more than a year ago, state Sen. Steven Horsford was just another first-term senator. A rising star, to be sure, but one whose promise was considered some years away.
Since then, he has risen to majority leader and led his caucus through the crucible of the worst fiscal crisis in state history.
It was not an ideal session to be a new majority leader: Facing a $2.3 billion budget hole that only grew as the session slogged on, Horsford had no choice but to raise taxes on his friends in the business community while cutting pay and benefits for public employees — some of the very people who helped deliver the majority to him.
And, he had to contend with the old lion, state Sen. Bill Raggio, the longtime Republican leader who is known as one of the toughest legislative players in Nevada history.
In the end, Horsford, who needed two Republican votes to get the budget and tax package through, came out alive and won praise from friends and adversaries alike.
“I think he did a good job. It was a tough session,” state Sen. Warren Hardy, R-Las Vegas, said. “Bill Raggio said if you’re not gonna be in charge, this is a good one not to be in charge. He put the needs of the state ahead of politics, and I would give him high marks.”
In Horsford’s own view, the 2009 Nevada Legislature didn’t make much progress in the session that ended last week. But he said he does think lawmakers have reason for optimism.
The Las Vegas Democrat, the youngest and first black majority leader in Nevada history, vowed in a meeting with the Las Vegas Sun editorial board to return in 2011 ready to fix the state’s tax structure and reform education, two areas where the Legislature, which meets every other year for 120 days, failed to act decisively in the session that ended Monday.
The Legislature enacted a tax hike of about $1 billion in the form of voter-approved higher hotel room taxes, as well as increases in payroll and sales taxes.
But legislators also made significant cuts, especially in education. Per-pupil spending in Clark County, for instance, will actually go down next year in a state that lags well behind the national average. Higher education will face a 12.5 percent reduction. State employee pay was reduced 4.6 percent through furloughs.
“All in all, it’s not enough,” Horsford said of the effort to raise revenue to avoid cuts to Nevada’s education and health care infrastructure, which suffer some of the worst ratings in the country on key performance measures.
Horsford’s unmet goal this session was to broaden the revenue base with a corporate income tax, which would have hit out-of-state companies that currently contribute little to the state’s revenue pool.
Nevada is one of a few states without a personal or corporate income tax, which conservatives say is an excellent draw for businesses and people. Horsford counters that it leaves the state too reliant on sales and gaming taxes, and, thus, the tourism industry.
“Our revenue structure does not work for Nevada,” said Horsford, who is also CEO of the Culinary Training Academy, which is backed by the tourism industry and unions.
“I was met with resistance, chiefly from the private sector and particularly the (Las Vegas) Chamber of Commerce,” he said.
In a compromise with Raggio, Horsford passed a bill to study the state’s tax system and the mechanics required for overhauling it in hope of tax reform in 2011.
But not this time.
Senate Republicans had significant political leverage over Horsford because he needed the constitutionally mandated two-thirds vote to enact any tax increase.They forced him to sunset the tax increases and came away with a long-standing wish list of changes to public employee pay and benefits that will reduce long-term liabilities.
“It’s the political will issue that we’re dealing with,” he said of more fundamental reforms.
What does that mean?
Candidate recruitment, fundraising and a tough 2010 election, during which seven of 21 Senate seats will be open because of term limits.
Last year, Horsford was an early backer of President Obama and then helped Democrats pick up two seats in the state Senate to take the majority. His method: Keep your candidates away from the press, and barrage the opposition with some of the nastiest mail in memory.
“Would it help to have more members who share my vision? Yes,” he said, but he added that they need not be Democrats.
Horsford said he was happy to have passed significant legislation on energy and the creation of green jobs, which he said will place Nevada in the mix as a renewable energy leader. “This is our new economy ... It’s on the verge of breaking out in a big way.”
And he cited the bill to create domestic partnerships — marital-like rights for straight and gay couples — as historic civil rights legislation. But Horsford said the Legislature failed his expectations, especially in the decision to sunset new taxes, which, he said, would put the state right where it was a few months ago, facing unfunded programs and fiscal crisis.
He also lamented the failure to pass his education reform bill, which would have brought sweeping change to the education bureaucracy while introducing merit pay and other reforms.
The bill passed the Senate unanimously but then stalled because of “resistance to change,” he said.
“Nobody is willing to jump off the cliff,” he quipped in frustration. “Let’s jump off the cliff together.”
He said the state’s flagging education system is evidence enough that fundamental reform is necessary.
The grass-roots energy of the Obama campaign showed itself on a few isolated issues during the session, including the domestic partners bill and protests of the cuts to higher education.
Still, he said, hopes for a real progressive agenda were crushed by the recession.
Discussion: 39 comments so far…
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Yep, they didn't do enough. Still, I guess what was accomplished was a start. I just hope we won't just elect more Dems in 2010 (including a Dem Governor!), but better Dems as well.
Dems suck Republicans are much better...why do we need more government? People should learn how to depend on themseleves, and stop asking the government for handouts. Now the dems gave us the biggest Tax increase in a long time..whats wrong with cutting education? Or cutting other things to balance the budget? These democratic leaders should learn to teach people not only in Nevada, but across this great nation..that learn how to work for your own, and stop depending on other people to bail you out. Even though God blessed our family really well...I still feel sorry for the homeless people on Main Street...but thats the way the ball bounces..we have some poor people, middle class, people, and the upper-class people...thats a fair society.
Considering the fact that the legislature dealt a major historical blow to Jim Gibbons ego by over ridding most of his petty vetoes, demonstrates to me without a doubt, that this last biennium was a huge success. It further demonstrates that a state can run without a governor when the legislature is willing to work together and compromise on the issues. The legislature both Democrats and Republicans showed great leadership in getting the business of the state done on time and without too many setbacks.
Job well done...
The state average of the basic support per pupil is actually going up by about $40 this next school year and another $140 next school year. If local district per pupil spending goes down, its most likely because local revenue is down - this isn't surprising considering how the legislature swept funds from the counties.
But how much we spend is unimportant. What is important is how effectively we spend the money.
On failed ed reform: http://npri.org/publications/opportunity...
On proper ed spending: http://npri.org/publications/power-for-n...
History has proven that a governmental system that is broken, and broken badly, and therefore cannot be fixed. The fix is to scrap it, and install a new one in its place. Nevada's tax structure is a total wreck, and Horsford knows it. He'll face an uphill battle replacing it despite the libertarian's opposition of "less government" thought, but it can be done. Nevada has been a Bottom Ten state far too long, and the 21st century has crept by, as Nevada has retreated into the failed past.
I don't know about that. If you mean "broken" as in "we aren't expanding government rapidly enough" then about any tax structure would have that problem.
Nevada's problem isn't collecting enough taxes - Nevada ranks about the middle of the pack. The historical problem is that we overspend and over commit spending to unsustainable levels. Everything becomes an "essential service" once it is established.
Take a look at the government numbers yourself: http://npri.org/publications/legislature...
You'll see a 30 year history of rapid growth and continual overspending.
Jones Vargas, R&R, Ferraro Group ... oh sorry, I was just wondering which lobbying firm LVPaco works for.
And is it Sun website administration policy to allow Patrick the paid NPRI staffer to use the Sun's site to link-whore his organization's press releases? Just wondering.
Q: Has man any right to exist if he refuses to serve society?
A: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq9udFmsN...
RE: Patrick Gibbons: Subject: About Topic You Blog About
Mr. Gibbons, you've got a real good understanding of the world, it's just a long way's away from your head.
Readers should be aware that NPRI.org is not a neutral source of information as the name suggest, and in despite of its mission statement and it is truly a partisan organization.
Past winners of its Chairman awards (last 2)
Jim Gibbons
Sheldon Adelson
Lastly consider that NRPI refuses to disclose where it gets its funding while rightly claiming it does not have too, it really smacks of if you have nothing to hide why hide????
I still say, bring the lotto to Nevada. It won't hurt the gaming business, regardless of what they say..
If they were to play their "cards" right, they could sponsor the lotto, selling the lotto tickets out of the casinos, bringing in business to their establishments.. that will get the locals down there!
Once you do, treat them right.. "Old Las Vegas style".. In turn the state will make their revenue, you will get return business on a daily basis, and the tourists will come.
This continuious building and remodling is not your answer.. it doesn't bring the people IN... with the lotto, it would kill 2 birds with one stone.. Why does everyone in this town have to take the long and nonproductive complicated way around?
As in "The Field of Dreams", build it and they will come, is outdated .. ie; City Center, ect.. It has now become, Give them a reason to enter your establishment, and COME THEY WILL!
Jbond, how NPRI is funded has nothing to do with the research it puts out. The facts within the research either hold up to scrutiny or they do not. Anyone is free to prove or disprove the findings, but talking about who funds them is a red herring - its fallacious reasoning.
Take for example the opposition like PLAN. The same thing could be used to throw out their research without so much as a logically coherent counterpoint on why they might be wrong. Attacking the ideology or the funding is a way for those with less capability to feel right about themselves and their beliefs.
By the way, my source was the government...
NPRI protects all its donors privacy for good reason. We don't want nasty bigoted individuals threatening you for standing up for what you believe in. The Supreme Court of the United States backs us up on this matter....
PATRICK, PATRICK, PATRICK!
Someday, when you are big, (grown up!) you will understand that all the NPRI statistical analysis DOESN'T HOLD UP TO SCRUTINY.
The "Adelson NPRI Supercomputers" are the same as all the rest of em; s..t in, s..t out.
Gmag, I welcome you to disagree by proving it. You, like so many others, don't actually bother backing up your big words.
And yes, OF COURSE IT MATTERS who the donors are, silly!
If you cannot, will not, or are afraid to stand up for what you believe in, Patrick, what does that SAY about what you believe in?
Let me help. It means that what they believe in is at least somewhat CONTROVERSIAL.
And they don't want their NAMES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
And you, along with your NPRI links and statistics have been debunked on these pages so often it's a wonder you bother any more.
Maybe you could take a cue from "SgtRock" and try a new nom de guerre.
Every non profit in America keeps its donor list private. I wonder if you would make the Progressive Leadership Alliance name their donors? Or the donors for gay and lesbian groups in Nevada? Or any other non-profit which you might be interested in supporting.
Protecting the privacy of donors isn't a problem except for people who want to use fear and intimidation to stop people from spending their money on things they disagree with. Those people are called closed-minded bigots (of which you seem to be one).
Gmag, if I have been proven wrong so many times, why do you struggle to provide the faintest shreds of evidence? Saying a shovel is a pizza doesn't make it edible - no matter how many times you tell yourself it is.
Lets start with this GMAG:
http://npri.org/publications/legislature...
Prove the claims wrong. The source is Nevada government you can get the data from Andrew Clinger. If you really need help, I'll send you his data set myself on Monday.
Just because your mad does not make me a closed-minded bigot, son. And, NO, I will not take your bait. I assume you can read, so if you've somehow missed all the posts rebuking your silly statistical analysis, LOOK THROUGH THE SUN'S ARCHIVES. That silliness has been preserved for future generations to marvel at!
One more note, Patrick. Each time someone challenges you on one of your flawed, NPRI-tainted, cockamamie theories, you get angry. Then you start to snipe at people. It does not help support your theories to continue acting like a 3-year-old throwing a temper tantrum when someone challenges you. Now; Get upstairs and wash up for supper, your moms is calling you.
Fact: Just about every Nevadan pays a higher tax rate than mining and gaming. Gaming pays 6.75%, Mining one-half percent (.005). Where is the fairness? Where is gaming and mining's responsibility to contribute to the state that provides them "ready for work" graduates from our schools, safe roads, working utilities, law enforcement, courts, prisons that don't leak escapees. Why are gaming and mining freeloading on the backs Nevada residents? Why???
Yes Gmag, you are a closed minded bigot who is consistently arguing with fallacious reasoning. You are also a lazy debater who does nothing but get angry with people, call names, attack ideologies and associations while never providing a well reasoned arguement.
I'd say which blogournalist you sounded like but I wouldn't want to offend them.
Until you can come back with a well-reasoned logical arguement, rather than your usual line of bull meant only to intimidate people who disagree with you, I'll leave you with some words from a famous Democrat,
you are entitled to your own opinions but not your own facts.
...until then.
PS if you're talking about the incident with Bill, not only was he unwilling to collect the data to prove his point, he was unwilling to email me to get the data to prove his point when I went and collected it from him. Not that it mattered, I consulted two other researchers more knowledgeable than me and they couldn't make heads or tales about what he said - both concluded that he was speaking nonsense, while also concurring that their is no evidence to suggest we must look at district data in order to compare states - noting as I did that statewide averages are weighted making his point moot.
But maybe you were talking about the debate on inflation adjusted per pupil spending? The one where bill calculated the inflation adjusted per pupil spending by taking the nominal dollar value and multiplying it by the inflation adjusted percentage increase?
And then when I corrected him on that he calculated the nominal dollar percentage increase and hoot and hollered, claiming I lied because the "real" value was a growth of 1600 percent - not realizing that 1600 percent is larger than 150% (which was the INFLATION adjusted growth).
If that is the statistical analysis debate you're talking about then you have a funny way of seeing the winner.
In fact I think you're only criteria to claim a victor in a debate is whoever closely matches your own opinion - that is a tell tale sign of someone who is closed minded.
Gmag.. http://npri.org/publications/legislature...
prove it wrong. Its not bate, its not a trick. Its a challenge. Back up your point with something more than hot air.
Posters that rely on failed statistics become redundant pretty darn quick, and become untrustworthy in stating facts, from reliable sources who take both sides of the equation into play. Some posters on this website insist on kicking dead dogs, and need to get a different bag of tricks to be considered reliable posters.
WE know who they are. Replying to them is futile, and a waste of time.
Poor Patrick. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.! Do you think I will rise to your "BATE" because you call me names?
HA! From you, it is a COMPLIMENT, sir! Thank you!
Now; Admit facts, Patrick.
Quite a few people, including myself, have argued facts and figures with you OVER & OVER & OVER.
You are like a broken record. Why, you even tried to contact me on my personal email account at one point to engage me further in one of your tangents. And you will NEVER admit that someone else's facts and figures might be JUST AS VALID AS YOURS. Because YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO TWIST THE FACTS AND FIGURES TO FIT YOUR/NPRI'S VIEWPOINT. This ALSO has been pointed out to you numerous times.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS is a TOOL. It is not meant to supplant common sense, or what experience tells us is so. We also are aware that "statistical analysis", when bought and paid for by a right or left leaning group is liable to come out LEANING left or right. If the group happens to be EXTREMELY LEFT OR RIGHT, well, you can extrapolate from there.
Your continued "challenges" to people posting here to "prove you wrong" or "shut up" are nonsense, because YOU WILL NEVER ADMIT that someone else has a valid viewpoint.
There are at least 2 sides to every topic. Yours doesn't have to be THE ONLY RIGHT ONE, IN LOCKSTEP WITH NPRI APPROVED "RESEARCH" EVERY TIME.
Afv and gmag,
Valid viewpoints are proved by the merit of the comment not by the hot air of the commentator. All you seem capable of doing is repeating the same claims without any supporting evidence. That sir is not scientific discovery (or rationed debate).
You can't claim someone is wrong without actually proving it so here is your chance:
Prove me wrong: http://npri.org/publications/legislature...
If I'm wrong as much as you say I am then this should be a simple task for you.
PS, I'm willing to share my data set, just send me an email and I will get it to you. I would honestly prefer a real academic debate rather than having to deal with fallacious gadflies whose staple argument is the personal attack.
SOME PROMINENT NEVADA STATE SENATE LEADERS OPPOSED DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS
Please don't forget that two of the nastiest haters in the State Senate are members of the Democratic Leadership. Sen. Terry Care and Sen. John Lee openly opposed granting legal status for domestic partnerships to gay and lesbian Nevadans.
The Mormon Church has a long and sordid history when it comes to civil rights. It wasn't until the 1970s that African Americans were allowed to hold the "priesthood" in the LDS Church. It's one of the reasons that Mormonism hasn't attracted a lot of blacks as members. When an African American does convert to Mormonism, he or she is displayed prominently like a prized show animal at the County Fair. It's a back-handed compliment of the worst sort.
More likely than not, it will be years and years before the Mormon Church treats gays and lesbians with the respect and dignity that is due any human being. Also more likely than not, when Mormon haters finally change their position in response to public pressure, they'll spend enormous amounts of time and money denying that they ever treated gays and lesbians like second class citizens in the first place.
Only in Nevada would you have openly bigoted political hacks chosen for leadership positions in the Democratic Party. What's next, will the Democrats in the Nevada State Senate be electing a Klu Klux Klansman as Senate Majority Leader?
Nevada is NOT a Hate Land!
Patrick, I am so done with you. You bore me with your continued attempts to engage me & others in your endless efforts on behalf of your Masters. Good luck, kiddo.
Gmag, I might be wrong. I'm willing to accept when I might be wrong. But you have to prove it first. I'm willing to share my data with you so you don't have to go dig it up yourself.
PLAN likely protects its list of donors for the same reason that nrpi does, nasty bigoted people like patrick who call you names for disagreeing with them. Need proof just look at Patrick's comments and all the name calling tsk tsk tsk, shame on you! For the record I am not a state employee nor do I contribute to Plan, the democratic party or nrpi. Like nrpi, I am as non-partisan as you claim you are.
Jbond...um, gmag personally attacks NPRI donors and demands to know who they are. He attacks the ones that he does know of and uses them as "evidence" that they are wrong. He attacks people personally, attacks their beliefs, attacks their associates but never makes a logical argument why they are wrong - only fallacious personal attacks.
And the fact that he wants to do this while attempting to intimidate all those who disagree with him is why I suggested he was a closed-minded bigot. He cannot be a bigot for disagreeing with me, that is just silly, and that is not what I implied.
what is he talking about; Anyone???
Nothing G. Forget it. Just get back to work on your factual counterpoints. I look forward to hearing them soon.
For the record, young man, I suggest you re-read my posts. Specifically look for any references that "attack NPRI donors" or "Demand to know who they are". Someone else pointed out that they were private, I made a comment as to MY OPINION of WHY. I could care LESS who donates to your "think tank" (wow). As for your calling me a closed-minded bigot; well, I'm going to chalk that up to your adolescence, young man.
I don't want to distract you from making sound, reasoned, rational arguments on why I might be wrong so I won't take you up on that.
I will wait patiently for you to prove this wrong: http://npri.org/publications/legislature...
gmag: "As for your calling me a closed-minded bigot; well, I'm going to chalk that up to your adolescence, young man."
I think you have proven your low level of maturity.
One that lives in a glass house should not throw stones.
In this thread, gmag does not once offer any valid arguments or any facts.
All he has done is attack by throwing mud.
Examples of gmag's lack of maturity:
"The "Adelson NPRI Supercomputers" are the same as all the rest of em; s..t in, s..t out."
"Now; Get upstairs and wash up for supper, your moms is calling you."
"You bore me with your continued attempts to engage me & others in your endless efforts on behalf of your Masters. "
gmag is a person who posts thoughtful good arguments with cited facts to support them.
Not!
gmag oftens goes for the gutter and just throws mud.
Patrick you statement that the kind of research put out by NPRI is not influenced by the money it receives its donors has to be the most
disingenuous statement you have ever made. You are about as truthful as the other fellow that bears your last name that lives in this State. Good grief I have never heard of such silliness.
Well, "SgtRock", If we are going to have a discussion on good etiquette and manners while posting here, perhaps we should start with the biggest mouth of them all, JFNANCE32.
Who has called every left-leaning person who posts here every name in the book?
JFNANCE32, THAT'S WHO!
Who has offered up his opinion as the word of GOD HIMSELF a thousand times over?
JFNANCE32, THAT'S WHO!
Talk about GLASS HOUSES!
At least I haven't changed my screen name to "SgtRock" from
JFNANCE32, THAT'S WHO!
I'm sorry if I offended Patrick, (a little bit) but YOU?
JFNANCE32? Not a chance, Mr. HOLIER THAN THOU. NOT EVER.