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Monday, March 29, 2010 | 2 a.m.
Democrat Rory Reid has put out more policy positions than any other candidate in the governor’s race.
He’s got at least three glossy booklets — each about 25 pages long — describing his plans for the economy, ethics in government and education.
But he’s missing a position statement on the biggest issue looming for the next governor and Legislature in 2011: a critical shortage in tax revenue.
That absence has further fueled attacks from his opponents that he has a “secret plan to raise taxes.”
Reid’s education plan, for example, includes teacher bonuses, teaching scholarships and significantly upgraded technology. He maintains administrative savings, which have been achieved in other states following a plan similar to his, would pay for those initiatives.
Meanwhile, Republicans Brian Sandoval and Gov. Jim Gibbons have put forward budget-cutting proposals in reaction to the latest deficit. That has allowed Reid to maintain that they advocate cutting education, while avoiding putting forward his own ideas on how to save money.
“Brian has offered hundreds of millions in cuts,” Sandoval’s spokeswoman Mary-Sarah Kinner said. “Rory Reid refuses to discuss cuts. He clearly plans to raise taxes. Brian’s plan for education, which will be released in the coming weeks, will not create a bigger hole in Nevada’s budget.”
Reid dismisses accusations that he plans to raise taxes.
“That’s what you say when you don’t have anything to say yourself,” Reid said last week. “Instead of proposing a plan, they are trying to confuse people about what it is I’m saying, or make people afraid of something when there’s no basis.”
Reid has said the recession is the wrong time to raise taxes.
As far as the budget is concerned, he said he will wait for recommendations expected from the Nevada Vision Stakeholders group created by the Legislature to address the long-term stability of the state’s tax structure.
“That is a process in which citizens are involved and we need to honor it,” Reid said. “They are going to be done before the election. I’ve said I am going to react to what they do. I might agree with it. I might criticize it. I might agree with parts of it and disagree with parts of it.
“But I’m going to react to it before the election.”
Sandoval’s turnaround
As Republicans running for statewide office tried to outdo one another last week with vehement responses to the passage of federal health care legislation, one prominent candidate’s response was noticeably subdued.
Gibbons vowed to sue the federal government. Former North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon promised to invoke the 10th Amendment to protect Nevada’s state rights. Senate candidate Danny Tarkanian filed a citizen initiative petition to nullify the new law in Nevada.
Sandoval, on the other hand, said: “We simply cannot afford it.”
That tune didn’t last long.
After the Las Vegas Sun published a story calling him out as the lone Republican in the governor’s race not calling for a lawsuit, Sandoval, a former federal judge, put out a new statement.
“After a thorough review of the bill and the legal foundation of this action, I absolutely support the state joining the suit against the federal government and would strongly urge the attorney general to move forward,” he wrote.
Lowden wrangles support in north
Prominent Northern Nevada Republicans will host an April 14 fundraiser for GOP Senate candidate Sue Lowden.
Lowden, as with many of her Southern Nevada primary opponents, is working for better name recognition and support in the north.
Among those signed on to the fundraiser: former Rep. Barbara Vucanovich, longtime GOP donor T.J. Day, developers Perry Di Loreto and Norm Dianda, and former Gibbons staffer Mendy Elliott.
Also noticeable on the hosting committee is GOP national committeeman Bob List.
Anjeanette Damon is the Reno Gazette-Journal’s political reporter and writes the “Inside Nevada Politics” blog, which appears at rgj.com/inp.
The Acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.
First, Harry's Kid and ethics are mutually exclusive. Check the UMC mess in Clark County for which Rory was a principle un-endicted co-conspirator as Commission Chairman.
Second, ALL his education ideas are older than dirt. They are not positions, they are smoke and mirrors. A position is something concrete. A plan is a step by step to achieve a goal. The kid does not have any concrete goals.
His idea is "I wish education was better in Nevada." But, as Clark County Commission Chair, he has not done much to help the Clark County School Board except make it more inept.
As for the economy and jobs, the kid is beyond clueless. He will support jobs. Whow, what a concept?
But how do you create jobs, RoryBOY?
You can't force people to hire other people. There has to be a legitimate reason and return for that trick to happen. If there is NO demand for what people do or for the products and services they create, all the rhetoric in the world will not solve the economy problem.
However, it's not hard to fix the economy. Just go get money to flow into the state. But you have to know how to do that and RoryBOY has no idea even where to start.
Is he planning to raise taxes? What else do you think he plans to do?
But you have an alternative choice.
Fred Conquest
Democratic Candidate for Governor
www.fredconquest.com
I'm one who is absolutely sick of the government spending more money than we have and dumping the
responsibility on our children and grandchildren. I apologize to the future generations as it disgusts me.
I know it's hard for the 'drool' cup group to get this, but the gReid's will say anything to fool you - When I say anything, yes folks, that means outright lies...
Remember his 'Daddy' has done 10x more individually for Louisiana, Nebraska, Vermont etc. than his own State of Nevada - Which he'll throw us a bone now, in the from of his son, and some programs just to fool the fools..
ALLOW NEVADA TO PROSPER, DUMP THE gREID's
I am in favor of raising taxes on all the posters above...for being obtuse.
Reid + Democrat = Taxes
It seems like Reid, Jr has adopted the Gibbons anti-tax plan.
Gibbons should say thanks to Reid, Jr.
We all know that Reid, Jr is really lying through his teeth on this.
The second that if he is in office then BOOOOOOOM he will be yelling and screaming for the biggest tax increase in the history of the state.
Interestingly, in 2002, Kenny Guinn wouldn't say how he was going to solve the state's fiscal problems and Republicans said, no big deal. Come to think of it, in 2000, George W. Bush wouldn't say what he would do about Yucca Mountain and his Republican supporters said, no big deal.
Now, if Republicans want to claim Reid has a secret plan, fine. But it seems to me they are speaking contrary to their own experience with having secret plans. And they would be denying that Nevada needed the tax increase that Guinn ultimately proposed because, hey, that's government and all government is evil. I just hope the Republicans who believe that will put all of their children in private schools and stopping driving on highways and streets so that there's a little more room for the rest of us who understand that government is not always the solution, but it isn't always the problem.
FredConquest - So your running for office? Well it sounds like you've already become a regular politician. All you did above was name call and not give ONE solid reason against any of Rory's positions. Instead of just attacking the other candidates how about you come up with some kind of plan. The voters are sick of seeing politicians just attack eachother with absolutly zero ideas on what to actually do for the people. Come up with a good solid plan that will benefit all Nevadans and not just the rich. It seems like the only person to actually have any plans at all are Rory Reid, not saying thats who im voting for, but at least the man has a plan and isn't affraid to talk about it. So come up with some good solid plans for the economy, education, health care and everything in between. If you cant come up with any plans than you would be just as unfit as most other politicians in this state.
No matter who is governor, taxes will be raised, but not enough, and Nevada will continue to suck, the end.
mschaffer.....Obtuse?? Did somebody watch The Shawshank Redemption and learn a new word?
Nicely done.
Reid is trying to distract the sheep with his plans. Plan on voting no to Reid, the job hopper Sandoval and any other career party politician.
"Brian has offered hundreds of millions in cuts" - so says the sad little sandoval spokester. Oh, yes! Cuts of millions of dollars to the already comatose education system, cuts of thousands and thousands of teacher jobs. That's where he went FIRST when announcing his so-called budget plan. He's a panderer and not someone I'd trust at all. Where's his actual budget experience?
And some people on this board need a civics lesson. Clark County School District is not overseen by the Clark County Commission whatsoever. Place blame for the current state of schools where it belongs: with Gibbo and his ilk.
Ya, Taxes are going to have to up. They need to up on businesses and property. The cheap ride is over. Man up Nevada! Needed services have been cut, there are no more cuts. Well I guess you could empty the prisons, close the schools, close the hospitals and send the police and firemen home, ah, maybe not! I just wish that there were any policitians out there that would have the guts to tell the truth.
Baby Reid will just follow in dad's footsteps. Raise taxes, send them to specific groups that work for his election at the expense of everything else and kick the can down the road. The problem is we are at the finale of a dead end street. Gasoline pricing is rising nationwide and when visitors put their money in gas pumps they quit coming to Nevada as they are broke.
rckisok...
sums it up nicely.
It's laughable. It really is. Republicans have nothing to offer. Nothing. "Lower taxes". Lower how? We live in Nevada, which has enjoyed the country's lowest income to tax ratio in the nation for years! We have one of the smallest governments in place, and it has shrunk considerably over the last two years even more. The fat was never there, we cut out the meat under Gibbons . . . what's next? Bone? I want real solution, folks, and right now a bunch of have-nothings are telling me Reid will raise taxes because he didn't say he would lower them. Here's a thought: raise taxes on mining and casinos that pay nothing compared to those around the country, and take the burden off of the middle class.
I am glad to see gmag agrees with me that Reid, JR is full of BS and will call for higher taxes if he wins.
Thanks for the 411.
The reason the state and local governments look small compared to neighboring states is that Nevada contracts out a lot of its functions to private contractors.
We can't afford Reid! I also have to agree, if little Acorn wins he will call for high taxes.
He's a Reid, the son of the dirty, crocked, bought and paid for Harry "Backdoor" Reid. You elect this weasle and you get what you deserve. period.