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By Anjeanette Damon (contact) 
Published Tuesday, March 13, 2012 | 8:25 a.m.
Updated Tuesday, March 13, 2012 | 10:12 a.m.
Anti-tax organizer Grover Norquist reportedly called Gov. Brian Sandoval “a rat” for extending a 2009 tax increase that he had promised to let sunset, according to an account of a conservative gathering in New York by the online news site BuzzFeed.
Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform and creator of the pledge not to raise taxes, also “dismissed the notion” that Sandoval could be a viable GOP running mate.
Sandoval, who did not sign the Americans for Tax Reform pledge, promised repeatedly on the campaign trail that he would not extend the 2009 state tax increase to cover a significant budget shortfall last year.
His original proposed budget allowed the tax increases to expire. But when the Nevada Supreme Court issued a ruling that threw into question the state’s use of more than $650 million in local government funds to fill the budget gap.
Sandoval then reversed his position, brokering a deal with lawmakers to temporarily extend the tax increase through the end of fiscal year 2013.
Reached by email, Norquist deflected a direct question on whether he labeled Sandoval “a rat.”
“I said he was the only Republican governor who raised taxes in 2011. Only five states raised taxes,” Norquist said in the email. “He was (a) poster child for why a written pledge is important. Sandoval said he wouldn’t raise taxes but did.”
At the time, several conservative lawmakers decried Sandoval’s decision, saying the court ruling applied only to the $62 million from the Clean Water Coalition and not the rest of the local government money. While 12 conservative lawmakers voted against the budget, Sandoval was largely able to quell any damaging political backlash from conservative activists.
Sandoval remains deeply popular with Nevada voters.
But Norquist has proven an influential voice on the issue of taxes, bringing a mostly black-and-white view to efforts to raise government revenue.
One of Norquist’s favorite invectives against Republicans he believes violate conservative fiscal principals is “rat head in a coke bottle.”
UPDATE: In a follow up email, Norquist said he doesn't believe he called Sandoval a rat and described his comments as a "fleeting reference on his tax hike."
I give Sandoval credit for NOT signing any pledge to Norquist.
Enjoyed the article.
Ms. Damon has put me in an awkward position.
It is an undeniable fact that, as to the current ultra-neo-conservative Tea/Republican Party composition nowadays, I absolutely detest them and every single one of their stupid policies that only pander to the extremely well off and rich.
I didn't vote for Governor Sandoval. I think he's a bum. Still do. Even though he stands up for making sure Yucca Mountain Project (YMP) doesn't happen.
But, on the other hand, Mr. Norquist is even worse. A bottom feeder who thinks he has power over all Tea/Republican Party politicians not only in America, but all over the world. This makes him a world class sleaze bucket.
Now, here I am in an untenable position where I have to actually commend another Tea/Republican Party politician (Governor Sandoval) over another one (Mr. Norquist), who isn't even a politician, but is verified to be pond scum and only a voice for the ultra-rich and nobody else.
Damn you, Ms. Damon, for putting my beliefs into a pretzel twist.
(NOTE: Hard to throw sarcasm on the typed word. Hope it came though...)
Norquist is just the scum of the world closely follwed by his ill informed Tea Party jack asses who have obstructed government since 2010.The Tea Party demands all of thier entitlements but they don't want anyone else to have what they deserve. Pukes!
Tea Partiers and the likes of Norquist are like little children, homer. They think things like clean water, good roads, robust education systems, healthy air, and so on just magically happen; that there is no cost to these things. When they realize that, indeed, we have to pay for them, they throw a tantrum. Unless, that is, someone threatens to take away something they can understand directly impacts their lives.
Comment removed by moderator. Name Calling
Please do not be fooled. Norquist is not a conservative. He is a single-issue gadfly who views the world through a cardboard tube, which is the worst sort of blinder there is. Extending a tax that already exists is not a tax hike. Sandoval's failure to repeal a tax hike that he promised to repeal while campaigning is excusable: ANY time a person talks about the future, they inherently assume that all circumstances will remain status quo ante. Circumstances changed (the court ruling), and there is a very real possibility that the ruling will extend to other past budgeting shenanigans. IF that occurs, and had Sandoval repealed the past increase, people would be trying to nail Sandoval to the cross for creating yet another budget crisis due to lack of foresight.
I'm no fan of EXCESSIVE taxation, and I did not vote for Sandoval. However, I can say that his actions thus far have been prudent, well thought out and reasonable. He has earned my respect and my vote in the next cycle (unless, of course, circumstances change in a way that would cause me to change that decision).
Brad Leutwyler
Las Vegas
Comment removed by moderator. Name Calling
Comment removed by moderator. Name Calling
My post about the Nevada Attorney General BACKDATING and FORGING court filings in Carson City got blocked a name calling? Rats.
Extending 'Sunset' taxes which are already in place does not constitute new taxes. New means newly created, not an extension of those in place. Norquist is a two legged sham.
Any legislator who signs such a draconian private pledge over listening to actual constituents and state/federal constitutions is harming the country.
Who in Nevada cares what the hell Grover Norquist says or does. Grover, please crawl back into your cave and leave us alone! I like most hate taxes but lets see what happens this year.
"Extending 'Sunset' taxes which are already in place does not constitute new taxes."
Obviously, SunJon, you never studied English vocabulary or logic in school. Any tax enacted after the sunset date is a new tax because the previous law stated that the tax being imposed would end by law on a date certain. In order to continue to collect the taxes past that date, it was necessary for legislators to pass new legislation authorizing those taxes and for the governor to sign such legislation. Therefore, a new tax was enacted because without legislative action, those taxes would have ceased.
It continues to be too expensive to support 13 million illegal immigrants and their kids. 100,000 illegal students in CCSD is BANKRUPTING us by depleting our government programs. We must ACT to reduce benefits and DEPORT ILLEGALS STEALING BENEFITS--everything from section 8 housing, food stamps, health care. Suppose we should start with those stealing state and local services. Can we FINALLY GET LEGISLATION to expel illegals taking up all our non-profit services????
Speaking of poster children, Grover Norquist revealed in an interview on the Daily Show that he devised his anti-tax pledge at the age of 12. We're all locked into tax policy dreamed up by a pre-pubescent boy.