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By Anjeanette Damon (contact) 
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 | 10:59 a.m.
Sun Coverage
Sun archives
While budget negotiations between legislative Democrats and Republicans have failed to yield a deal, Assembly Democrats may have more of a problem with a revolt from within their own caucus than their inability to swing Republican votes.
Assemblyman Kelvin Atkinson, D-North Las Vegas, and Assemblyman William Horne, D-Las Vegas, are openly refusing to back the deal Speaker John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas, has crafted to bring the budget to a close without a tax increase.
The rift has forced the indefinite postponement of a joint money committee meeting scheduled for this morning. Democrats had planned to start cutting some of the $968 million they had hoped to add to Gov. Brian Sandoval’s proposed budget after realizing they would not be able to find the votes to pass a tax increase.
Meanwhile, Assemblywoman Lucy Flores, D-Las Vegas, is said to be attempting to form a bloc of freshman lawmakers to help bridge the divide. One source said she is working to bring the two factions of Assembly leadership together.
But another Republican lawmaker said she is reaching out to Republicans as well, frustrated with the inability of leadership to reach a deal.
Emotions are running high as leadership works to bring a budget deal to a close before Friday, which would give them enough time to override Sandoval’s promised veto of a budget that includes either tax increases or an extension of 2009 tax hikes set to expire.
“They can’t tell me to vote for something I don’t like and then tell me I have five minutes to make up my mind,” Atkinson said, visibly upset.
Leaders are hoping the delay of the money committees will give lawmakers time to calm down before negotiations resume.
The rift in the Assembly, as well as the efforts by freshmen lawmakers to exert some control illustrates the toll term limits have taken on the Legislature this year, removing from the mix many experienced lawmakers.
They have had 120 days not 5 min. get to work dems.
"The rift in the Assembly, as well as the efforts by freshmen lawmakers to exert some control illustrates the toll term limits have taken on the Legislature this year, removing from the mix many experienced lawmakers."
Don't even try to build a case for abolishing term limits. The biggest problem our current system of government has is that there are too many career politicians working hand-in-hand with corporate lobbyists. I say we should allow our representatives to serve a SINGLE term only. Whatever inefficiencies occur will be ameliorated by the fact that there will be far less corruption than if we continue to allow people to serve for decades.
How about this deal, no tax increase.
I love it when a plan comes together! lol
For the comment section, we need like/dislike buttons to avoid repeating a post we already agree or disagree with plus a reply option to an individual post. Just a suggestion.
I agree (like) EH122
No more tax increases. Cut the spending!
azbycx, not only that, I think we really should push for an amendment to the Constitution that Congress and the Senate, and the President, must have all laws they pass apply to them--they can no longer be exempt. Plus, they get far more generous retirement benefits than any fireman, after just one term! They need to be under Medicare and Social Security, just like us. How do we push for this amendment? Let the politicians show who they truly are, because they will fight such an amendment like they've never fought anything before, and they'll be showing their true colors!
There's been plenty of time to deal with the earth-shaking issue of a smoker's right to puff away around kids and food, but no time to solve this state's worst budget crisis since the first Great Depression? Really?
I wouldn't expect our pretty governor to care about public education: He went to private school and his kids attend private school.
However, I would hope SOMEONE in Carson City cares enough about our future to at least try to salvage public education funding.
Horsford has shown himself, at least in his statements to TV news crews, to be politically naive. Waiting until near the end of the session to come up with his cockamamie "copy of Texas" business tax is a perfect example. The Democratic leadership in the state needs to replace him with someone having more common sense.
This is excellent news. No new taxes. Do with what you have-ther rest of us have to do that everyday.
Democrats are sheep! You stood around gnawing on the grassy fields of Carson City, while Nevada told you to wake up and legislate. Now the fattest Ewe Oceguera has led you to the slaughterhouse of the last minute deal. An Eleventh hour deal that was made in haste and renders a clear showing of spineless capitulation.
You sold your out party Oceguera, but your indistinct affiliation has always placed you as sort of a closet Republican. Now, with all these busy backroom dealings and the rancor from your own party, your damaged psyche may cause you just a little bit of insomnia. May I suggest you try counting sheep"Baaaaahhh!
The climax of the Republican budget is to eliminate the money to purchase prscribed, controlling pharmaceuticals for released felons. Next comes the emergency bulletin to remove the fuel from chain saws in the county. Then we will see how politically naive Horsford is viewed.
The SUNSETS WILL EXPIRE. Start listening to the TAXPAYERS of Nevada and STOP OVER FUNDING K-12 and higher ed. STOP SERVICES TO ILLEGALS. Deport Flores: alleged anchor baby of mother here illegally is NOT a citizen.