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Wednesday, March 14, 2012 | 3:02 p.m.
Brian Sandoval
Gov. Brian Sandoval’s decision to support extending taxes set to expire next year was intended to spare further cuts to school budgets, but it isn’t winning him friends in the education community.
The teachers union responded to the proposal today, saying Sandoval “has reaffirmed his dedication to preside over the demise of public education.” The Nevada State Education Association criticized the governor’s plan to propose no increase in spending for the budget that lawmakers will debate in 2013, citing the budget cuts to the public schools in the 2011 Legislature.
“The governor must put the education of our children first instead of the needs of his big business cronies,” association President Lynn Warne said.
The governor announced Tuesday that he will recommend the so-called “sunset taxes” be extended for two years to spare further cuts to education. But on state workers furloughs, imposed by the 2009 Legislature, the governor said his administration is working on a possible solution. “One consideration is to end the furloughs,” he said.
Similar criticism came from other labor groups in the state, including the state employees union, whose members take monthly furloughs because of budget cuts. The monthly furlough day equates to a little more than a 4 percent pay cut.
The governor “wants the state workers to work harder but for less pay,” says Vishnu Subramaniam, head of the Nevada chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 4041, said.
Subramaniam said the economy is improving and it’s too early to predict a “doom and gloom budget.”
The federation is unhappy with the way the state health insurance program is being run. Subramaniam said Jim Wells, executive director of the Public Employees Benefit Board, recommended more than $80 million be cut from the budget during the last Legislature. That moved an employee deductible to $1,900 and a family’s to $3,800.
Now, he said, there are $46.7 million in reserves. He said he will ask the benefit board to put the $46.7 million back in the health package for workers.
“Having this kind of surplus in the benefits program is outrageous when so many of our workers are hurting,” Neil Lake, UNLV employee and president of the workers union, said.
Enough is ENOUGH. Gov. Sandoval is making the tough, adult choices that have needed to be made for years here. EVERYONE pays their fair share in taxes (regardless of how the others that read this post feel - as we all have our own opinions), and we (the people of Nevada) will start to feel the benefits down the road. NO ONE is exempt or immune from taxes, so pay your share, and STFU!!!! If you don't like the taxes or living conditions, I-15 runs both ways out of the State........pick a direction and LEAVE.....
When it comes to public employees and their unions they ARE never happy, they have never BEEN happy and they will never BE happy.
This shouldn't surprise anyone that really knows politics and why many things are done. The race to the bottom legislation comes out of ALEC with the intent on eventually privatise the US education system which will basically lump all the wealthy kids at certain schools and all the poor students at others. The wealthy will receive a better education further increasing inequality with each successive generation.
It's the continued plan of the neo-cons since the 70's to destroy the working class in the US and basically take the country backwards a good 100 years. Anybody that reads the reports out of the OECD or PISA knows that it is in direct conflict with the best practices reported from over 120 countries in and outside the OECD.
"Sunset Taxes" Whatever - There is no suck thing! They are like unicorns, sounds good, but do't exist!
Sandoval learned well from his dirt napping mentors!
Take note who the public unions endorse for office and remember this the next time you vote.
I also suggest reading Ralston's piece on this: http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/ralston...
If the unions can afford to spend millions on the reed politicians and obama, they sure as hell should be able to belly up and support thier own employees instead of trying to bilk the taxpayers.
If you are in a union you work for the union not your presumed employer.
public employee unions should be outlawed, not just in Nevada but nationwide. They use the threat of member votes and member dues to get the politician they want, the one that will increase pay and benefits and hence their own payday regardless of how far south the economy is or how stressed the cash cow (taxpayer) is. There is a reason they mostly exist in the public sector.
If we wait for what "should be" we'll be bankrupt. K-12 students that are the kids of 13 million illegals are bankrupting us. We must EXPEL them from K-12, free health care, government-subsidized housing, EBT food stamps. We need NEVADA statutes for APPLICANT FRAUD, BENEFIT FRAUD and we need the auditors and investigators to route them out--the feds will deport when they break our laws. NO ONE in Nevada is looking at APPLICANTS for all the programs--ya think many are using birth certificates of extended family to CLAIM they are citizens?? So, in this case, we NEED A LITTLE MORE GOVERNMENT.
Actually using a Star Trek translator module I think the proper Union quote is: Hey, fire all the new guys that were brought on to be sacrificial lambs and let the older teachers and the State and local union leaders keep their jobs and perks.
Tarik, the plan is? How about the plan has succeeded and is in the can?