Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
By Anjeanette Damon (contact) 
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011 | 2:01 a.m.
Budget cuts
Viewing video requires the latest version of Adobe's Flash Player
KSNV coverage of Gov. Brian Sandoval's proposed state budget, Jan. 25, 2011.
Beyond the Sun
Sun Coverage
Steven Horsford
John Oceguera
During his campaign for governor, Brian Sandoval promised to craft a budget that preserved essential state functions in the face of a $2 billion deficit without raising taxes.
Within hours of Sandoval delivering a plan to do that, Democrats began the race to convince the public, business leaders and, most importantly, at least five Republican lawmakers that Sandoval failed on his promise.
Indeed, several key Republicans said during the campaign that their position on a tax increase hinged on whether Sandoval could, unlike his predecessor, produce a budget that won’t cripple the state.
Democrats must settle on a strategy for winning over these lawmakers. And in the early days of a legislative session filled with freshmen lawmakers and young leaders, that strategy appears to be somewhat in disarray, with Senate and Assembly Democrats appearing to take different approaches.
“I don’t know what it is,” one Democrat with access to leadership discussions said of the strategy. “I don’t know that we even have one.”
A three-pronged strategy has begun to take shape, at least on the Senate side. Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, is expected to forcefully wield his power as leader and chairman of the powerful Finance Committee, looking for the priorities of individual lawmakers that he can use as leverage to gather votes.
Meanwhile, a new political team he is building will work on constituent pressure in swing districts represented by Republicans.
And Horsford will continue meeting with a group of business leaders, hoping to build a case that the success of their industries relies heavily on the strength of infrastructure, education and other services provided by state government.
“This budget does not position us for success,” Horsford said during a news conference Monday night.
To Democrats, the advantage is the fact that details of Sandoval’s plan are out. Instead of simply arguing that businesses can’t afford a tax increase, the administration must defend specific cuts, some of which are substantial.
For example, according to the governor’s budget director, Sandoval wants to cut K-12 schools by 9 percent and higher education by 17 percent.
Although Democrats spent their first morning with Sandoval’s proposed budget in hand loudly condemning cuts to education, borrowing from future streams and pilfering local revenue, they have yet to put forward an alternative.
Both Horsford and Assembly Speaker John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas, refused to say whether they would seek a tax increase to blunt the cuts they find unacceptable.
Oceguera said he has a four-part plan: Cut spending, reform the way government operates, focus on economic development and create a vision for the future.
But he declined to say whether a tax increase is included.
“The last step of that is to see where we’re at. If we’re at a place where we still need revenue, then we ought to look at it,” he said.
The two Democratic leaders are cultivating different opposition styles. In his response to Sandoval’s speech, Oceguera struck a tone of cooperation.
Horsford basically declared Sandoval’s budget dead on arrival, vowing not to process it through the Finance Committee if it includes such steep cuts to education.
Asked if he agreed with Horsford, Oceguera chuckled. “That was pretty strong,” he said.
Democrats also face a popular governor, whose election, some argue, was a clear message that voters expect state leaders to solve the budget problem without burdening businesses and residents with a tax increase.
That popularity could hold together the Republican minorities in the Senate and Assembly, both of which are large enough to block a tax increase if they remain united.
Reaction from Republicans was mixed.
Freshman Sen. Greg Brower, R-Reno, who some have said is enough of a moderate to be targeted by Democrats, said he is excited by Sandoval’s proposal.
“Some of the cuts that the Legislature is going to consider are difficult and some long overdue in terms of streamlining government,” he said. “I haven’t seen or heard anything that would cause me to rethink my support of the governor.”
Assembly Minority Leader Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, was a little more cautious.
He said he’s deeply concerned about the rural counties’ ability to take on the additional services Sandoval wants to push to their level. Sandoval’s higher education plan also provides dedicated funding for UNR and UNLV from county property tax revenue, but does nothing for the community colleges in Elko and Carson City.
“Will these cuts leave a functional budget? Yes, the jury is still out on that,” Goicoechea said.
Sun archives
- Soft words during State of the State hide Nevada in pain(1-25-2011)
- Teachers not pleased with most of Sandoval’s speech(1-25-2011)
- In response, Democrats say taxes might be part of budget solution(1-24-2011)
- Quotes on Sandoval’s budget, speech(1-24-2011)
- Sandoval calls for education overhaul, job cuts in State of the State(1-24-2011)
- Scott Dickensheets: Imagine the state of the state two years down the road (1-24-2011)
- State of the State: How doors could open for Nevada (1-24-2011)
- Is Brian Sandoval’s ‘shared-sacrifice’ budget the solution to state’s economic woes? (1-23-2011)
- Most vulnerable await budget cuts with trepidation (1-23-2011)
- Increasingly worried liberals seek pushback on Sandoval budget (1-21-2011)
- Construction industry: Raise taxes for job growth (1-20-2011)
- Groups seek higher taxes on tobacco and gasoline (1-20-2011)
- Sandoval warns of consolidation, job losses in state government (1-19-2011)
I wonder: are we SURE Sandoval left enough money in the budget to provide "essential state services"? If one defines those services as whatever pleases Sandoval's ventriloquists, yes.
Sandoval is technically correct that the higher ed cut is less than 7 percent because the legislature technically cut the money that was subsidized by the federal stimulus back in 2009.
That is why higher education officials put out such inflated budget cut numbers previously - they were looking at state cuts and ignoring the federal stimulus dollars.
Between 2007 and 2010 higher education's total state approved budget reductions were a mere 7 to 11 percent, depending on university.
K-12 education saw budget cuts that, as a percentage of total spending, was significantly less - and almost non existant.
Sandoval's budget is $600 million short of current general fund spending. State agencies think they should get a 30 percent increase in spending which is nonsense.
Sandoval is essentially the mouth piece for the "unbiased" Nevada Policy Research Institute (should be Institution, as in loony bin, with the narcissistic Geoffrey Lawrence as the poster child for the mentally ill).
Oceguera is the best thing that ever happened to the Republicans. "Cut spending, reform the way government operates, focus on economic development, and create a vision for the future." sounds rather GOP to me. You might wanna check that party affiliation pal!
Horsford better buy a lot of Chapstick for the anatomy he'll be kissing to get this budget where he wants it.
It's time to start thinking about another state...of mind that is.
Several have suggested the people are willing to pay higher taxes to support schools.
I suggest we ask parents of students to voluntily support the school system. Parents would be asked to donate to the school that their student attends a monthly amount to cover the shortfall. I'm estimating this to be $30.00 per month per student.
This will get parents interested and invested in there kids education. The value of a quality education far exceeds the $30 cost.
I believe college level history classes are not an essentail state service.
The students should just read history books or pay for the class out of their pockets.
It bothers me that Horsford simply complains about the spending cuts in education, without really proposing any ideas that would improve the quality of the system. It isn't money that's going to improve things. More money for the same crappy programs is a waste.
If he needs to be taken seriously, and not seem like this is a completely political move, he needs to propose IDEAS (not just for raising money) that would improve the quality of our crappy system.
What I feared would happen, is happening. Petty politics is getting in the way of making real progress in education. Great job, politicians! Way to prove the theory that you're good for nothing.
Education is being further destroyed and Mental Health is being virtually eliminated in Nevada. Way to go Governor Sandoval. You're doing such a great job for our students and those who need psychological help.
Keep going and see if you can actually "cut" our way into the black and a balanced budget!! What's next the DMV, NVDOT, or all state services?
The forces of Republican evil want to return to the gilded age where there are a few elite that live in Mansions, (like Sandoval) and the rest toil in dire poverty. Sandoval is for taxes to pay for his tax-payer paid for Mansion and his taxpayer paid for medical insurance. It is time Sandoval give up his lavish taxpayer provide lifestyle, his State Airplane and his Government Mansion.
We should lease the Governor's Mansion to a responsible party who will take care of it, rather than the Sanadoval family.