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AP Photo/Cathleen Allison
Nevada Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, speaks on the Senate floor at the Legislature in Carson City on Monday, March 28, 2011. The Senate convened as a Committee of the Whole to review Gov. Brian Sandoval’s $5.8 billion budget proposal.
By Anjeanette Damon (contact) 
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 | 2 a.m.
Sun Archives
Sun Coverage
Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford continued his relentless public flogging of Gov. Brian Sandoval’s proposed budget Monday, holding a two-hour budget hearing for the entire Senate in his attempt to convince Republican lawmakers the spending plan is unworkable.
The hearing was part of Horsford’s strategy this session to pummel legislators he considers as possible swing votes on a tax plan with the grim reality of Sandoval’s budget.
For two hours, legislative staff ran down the $1.5 billion in money shuffles Sandoval has proposed — shuffles that rely on borrowing from future revenue, taking money from local governments and shifting funds from other purposes.
Those maneuvers have the potential to hand the next Legislature a $1.1 billion hole, Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, argued.
He then turned to Sandoval’s cuts reading a litany of devastation he believes will occur if the budget passes:
• Dropping Nevada’s average per-pupil education funding below even that of Guam.
• Eliminating funding for hundreds of mentally ill and disabled Nevadans relying on residential support.
• Cutting 174 families from an autism treatment program.
• Chopping a quarter of the higher education budget.
• Cutting staff in parole and probation, closing the Nevada State Prison and Wells Conservation Camp.
At the end of the hearing Horsford reasserted the vow he made at the beginning of the session.
“I am not prepared to support the level of reductions that are proposed,” he said. “We need to put ideological views aside — and that starts by putting everything on the table. As we talk about the cuts we have to make, the reforms we agreed should occur, we also must talk about the revenue needed to responsibly balance this budget.”
But as Horsford insists on a surgical review of the spending cuts, he has yet to put his suggestions for a tax increase on the table for similar inspection.
Horsford has promised a chance for equal scrutiny of a tax plan. As the session nears the halfway mark, however, he is content to let Sandoval’s budget remain the only plan open to attack as he scrambles to convince at least three Republicans that it can’t stand.
In an attempt to disarm Horsford before the hearing, Sandoval released a plan to close a $123 million hole that had opened up in his proposed budget this month. Sandoval spent weeks ignoring Horsford’s demands that he fulfill his constitutional duty to propose a balanced budget.
Although Sandoval put forward a budget fix, Horsford brushed off the proposal, refusing to let Sandoval’s staff present it at the hearing.
Instead, he tried to build the case that the larger problem is that Sandoval’s budget pushes the problem onto future lawmakers.
Senate Minority Leader Mike McGinness, R-Fallon, likened it to a scare tactic.
“If we looked out there far enough we could scare ourselves to death,” McGinness said about handing the 2013 Legislature a $1.1 billion budget hole. “I think we need to work on this current budget, and the governor, with his budget adjustments, seems to have filled up the holes we’re talking about.”
Horsford, still smarting from his failure to persuade lawmakers two years ago to enact a permanent fix, was quick with a reply.
“We do need to look at things more in a multiple-year fashion,” he said. “That’s what has gotten us to where we are: We don’t think about long-term consequences of the decisions we make.”
In addition to the two-hour hearing, Horsford and his staff have helped organize town-hall meetings lambasting the cuts and played a strong role in the rally of more than 1,000 college students at the Legislature.
He’s also meeting individually with Republican senators, during which he presents a detailed breakdown of how the budget cuts would affect their district.
“He’s desperately trying to find people who want to raise taxes,” said state Sen. Barbara Cegavske of Las Vegas, who as the Senate Republicans’ second in command has staked out a staunch opposition to a tax increase.
“Everybody knows the tactic. He can do that, it’s fine.”
But will it work?
Sen. Joe Hardy of Boulder City, who is on Horsford’s list of possible swing Republicans, described his meeting as pleasant. He acknowledged he has concerns about how the cuts will affect his district and the state as a whole.
But after the rallies, the hearings and the one-on-one meetings has anything persuaded Hardy to back away from Sandoval’s budget?
“I still support the governor’s budget,” he said.
it really is a crying shame...
that our pathetic governor...
slick slimy phony nervous smiling huckster brian sandoval...
that fraud in carson city...
who was the beneficiary of a unr education...
who now wants to gut it...
that maggot...
cares more about mining and big business...
than the innocent children of nevada...
it's a frickin joke...
hell...
even sarah "the dumbest politician ever" took care of her own...
not brian...
she raised taxes on oil in alaska...
even when their budget was fine...
but not maggot sandoval...
this fraud values his greasy campaign contributions from mining....
more than the innocent children from the very state he serves...
that maggot gets off putting down those from where he came...
want proof...
brian "the maggot" sandoval is the son of mexican immigrants...
now he enjoys dumping on them...
this maggot is all about climbing the ladder...
he does not care about anything but his next move up...
it's a frickin joke...
BRIAN SANDOVAL IS A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FRAUD!!!
"I am not prepared to support the level of reductions that are proposed," he said. "We need to put ideological views aside -- and that starts by putting everything on the table. As we talk about the cuts we have to make, the reforms we agreed should occur, we also must talk about the revenue needed to responsibly balance this budget."
Thank God.
Intelligent Life Form has been spotted in Carson City.
That quote there is a perfect BULLSEYE!
Dropping Nevada's average per-pupil education funding below even that of Guam.
But it WOULD put us on par with ATLANTIS!
*Senate Minority Leader Mike McGinness, R-Fallon, likened it to a scare tactic.
"If we looked out there far enough we could scare ourselves to death," McGinness said about handing the 2013 Legislature a $1.1 billion budget hole. "I think we need to work on this current budget, and the governor, with his budget adjustments, seems to have filled up the holes we're talking about."
Holy Mother of God...
This part is NOT GOOD.
Is McGinness for REAL???
Sounds like something a CHILD would say!
"Wull, jeepers, B.S. took care o' them holes with sum budjut mahnoovers. Ahl's well here in Carson city."
It's TWO YEARS. Not 20, not 10, or even 5...
2 YEARS!
YES INDEEDY, THAT IS MIGHTY SCARY, Mikey.
We'll make sure they leave a Night light on for ya.
Those politicians in Nevada who refused to take responsibility for our financial woes over the past four years are living, breathing examples of underfunded education.
I say, "You get what you pay for". Nevada has always paid the lowest taxes and funded the poorest education, ignored the homeless, and provided minimal services to those who are disabled and mentally ill.
Most people in Nevada would willingly pay a little more tax.
But this isn't about the people in Nevada, is it?
Republicans are two-faced about raising taxes. Last March they tried to stop Obama from cutting payroll taxes for businesses, but Scott Brown voted with the Democrats, and then got called a traitor.
That cut ended at the end of the year, but saved me a lot of money. Obama wanted to extend it, but Republicans killed that idea. I'm a small business owner, and will pay more in payroll taxes thanks to the Republicans.
Why do Republican business owners support Republicans who make them pay higher payroll taxes? It doesn't matter to employers who cheat and pay undocumented workers in cash, but what about all of us who obey the law and hire Americans? Payroll taxes will cost me a lot more money than anything Horsford wants.
Have another cup of tea! Personally I drink coffee and am part of the Coffee Party - a liberal group.
Impeach Sandoval - that is the answer!
I believe that the only way we the State of Nevada can serve is to cut inside the state not to the people that come here as they are the backbone of the state. We over tax to much we will look Atlantic City cold dirty nasty , broken down casinos.And we live in the desert to be cold we must cut so the fires rise and all the people come back and the strip grows again , and we then can build New casinos that had closed finish the ones that never where completed sell off our houses and build new houses, and get back to a low unemployment,that is where Governor Sandoval we voted in is tying to do , so lets help him and stop all the *&^(... I do not want to see billion dollar on our books do you? Because I do not have that kind of money DO? If SO you pay off our debt.....! Thank you
Leave it to Whorsford and he will bankrupt NV but he'll still have his reserved parking space in the handicap zones!
Keep up the good work, Mr. Horsford. The thugs in Carson City need to be held accountable for the rape of Nevada and the dismantling of its future.
It seems a bit like a replay of health care reform or other things with the parties reversed. He we have Governor Sandoval who has a plan on the table and the other side does not like it, but have we seen a full plan from Senator Horsford or anyone else. Like the Democrats said when the Republicans were picking on the health care reform bill, it is always easy to pick apart a plan from someone else but much harder to put forth one of your own. It would be refreshing to see Senator Horsford submit a framework for what he thinks the spending levels should be and where the money should be raised. At least at that point we would set some markers for the boundaries of the discussion instead of picking apart the governors plan without any clear direction outside of a call for more revenue.
Senator Horsford is moving down the right path taking a look at REVENUE and lack of a fair tax structure.
This governor is in the pocket of big business in this state, he was selected, virtually appoainted by them to represent their interests only. He in no way represents the interests of working Nevadans.
Thank you Senator Horsford!
Floozy,
Want a plan? Here's a plan.
1) Lottery. 100% of the proceeds go to education.
2) Increase mining tax from 0.5% to 10%
3) Increase gambling revenue tax to 40% (other states like PA and OH tax at 50-55% and the casino industry is still trying to get into those states, so no crying about it ruining gambling in NV)
4) Allow school districts to levy the property tax on churches. It is time for religion to stop getting a free ride in this state.
5) Eliminate wasteful spending on the CCSD Police. They cost taxpayers $20 million annually and do nothing but duplicate services provided by metro.
Adopt these changes and the budget will be fixed, without costing middle class taxpayers any more and without cutting services.
Mr. Horsford should stop talking about the pain and start doing something to fix it. stop tearing apart the problem and get to work on passing a budget. If he wants the money, vote the bills and then override the Gov. this is how it is suppose to work. But it seems like he is following what others do. complain complain complain.
These politicians are a joke. They don't care about improved services. They just play these games and blame each other, and the students and community are the ones that suffer. Horsford...would the status quo for the education system be sufficient? I certainly hope not, we're the worst in the country. Increased funding for the same crap isn't going to get us anywhere. They need to focus on the ideas first, then come up with a budget to support it.
Sandoval, are you seriously going to mask your refusal to raise taxes on your mining buddies by claiming you're "reforming" the system? Too bad, because I support true reform, but Sandoval is just as insincere as every other politician in this state. Really sad that Sandoval wouldn't/couldn't expand on the straight question that Ralston asked him regarding the mining industry.
With these clowns on both sides, it's no wonder this state is in the toilet.
Amen! You go Horsford! Let's look at both cuts and revenue/tax increases, especially from mining and gaming. Shouldn't it be common sense that a two pronged approach of both raising revenue and reducing spending would close the gap better and faster than being a ione trick pony?
Why do politicians lack so much commons sense? Oh, thats right, they do have the common sense, but dont want to admit it because often times it betrays the hidden agendas of them and their fat cat lobbyist benefactors.
The Liberal mantra. Raise taxes to allow more spending. Giving every excuse along the way, as to why the spending is needed
If you taxed everyone at a 100% rate. Liberals would still find a way to spend it all. Then still run up more deficits.
No wonder the Nationl Debt is $14.3 Trillion & growing 6 Billion a DAY.
I think at last count the number of states in or near bankruptcy was over 40. Nevada of course being one of them.
Nothing to worry about though...RIGHT
But dont touch horsiefords illegal parking and agressive driving! Stay out of his way and you'll be fine.
p.s...is that a mustache or a third eyebrow??
Horsford, never met a tax he didn't like or a handicap parking place for that matter!!!! For all you wanting more tax, hey why not donate all your check to the state and alls will be better!!!! Take it most of the tax and spend crowd haven't lived here very long and are from Cali!!!!!!!! Go figure!