It's no wonder Fox News didn't rush to break the story. What a poorly written letter. And this guy made over $160K while working for Senator Ensign? And held one of the top positions in his office? Please! My writing skills are better than his. I couldn't even read the entire letter because his spelling errors drove me nuts. I wonder if he's a product of the Clark County School District???

The utility companies are guaranteed a certain return on investment. The problem is all the perks they provide to their management staff -- starting at the director level and up. Free personal vehicles with maintenance, insurance, fuel, and registrations fees paid by the company -- or the ratepayer. Upper management personnel traveling first class and staying at first class hotels for business meetings. These guys can afford to purchase their own vehicles. Why should someone making over $100K (at the director level) be given a vehicle? Why should the ratepayer be responsible for the insurance, maintenance, fuel, and registration costs for those vehicles? And why should employees be able to use frequent flyer programs for personal vacations? If the ratepayers paid for their business trips, then free airline tickets or hotel rooms should be used for business purposes ONLY. It's time the PUCN start cracking down on these things.

Jon, the bill is actually S.B. 395. Don't want to give the Governor's office any reason to discredit your report.

I hope the PUCN does a thorough examination of the company's expenses. Given these financial times, the PUCN should start disallowing some of the perks given to management, such as cars where the company pays for a personal car (that can be used by the employee's family, including teenagers), car insurance, maintenance, and gas. They should also do a thorough examination of travel and business expenses to ensure that the company is conserving at all levels.

While I appreciate the analyses above, my only thought is this: nothing is unconstitutional until the Supreme Court rules it is. And I am so tired of our elected officials spending money to fight a referendum or petition. Now, based on the above analyses, this may be a case where it is beneficial to fight it because of possible impacts of previously-issued bonds. But, let the voters speak. At least then the decision will be from the voters of the City of Las Vegas and not just members of Steve Ross' trade association or the union. If the Mayor thinks his constituents support the new City Hall, why is he so afraid of putting the issue to a vote?

I agree with Morgan...the Governor does not want to increase taxes on business because that's where he gets his campaign contributions. So, instead, he "taxes" state employees and teachers. And it is a tax on employees. But, not only did he say he would reduce wages by 6%, he said there would be no longevity pay and that the employee share for health care would increase. So, basically, employees would lose much more than the 6% pay cut. There are many disasters facing this state if the Governor's budget passes as is.

What really upsets me is the concentration on salaries and benefits of the auto workers and their union with no comments about management salaries and benefits. If such things must be cut, then they should be cut from the top down. This is the same thing that happened with the bailout for the financial industry....billions in taxpayer money that allowed CEOs and managers to maintain their wealthy lifestyles while those in lesser positions still face layoffs. It's my guess that Wall Street received its bailout so quickly because members of Congress (in both houses) were concerned about their own investments and/or losses. Bailouts galore and the divide between the wealthy and the poor continues to grow, with the wealthy constantly bleating about lowering taxes and eliminating help to the less fortunate. Corporate welfare is okay; individual welfare is not. Go figure!

As a woman, I agree wholeheartedly that John McCain's selection is an insult to women. There were other, more qualified Republican women he could have chosen; instead, he went for a trophy VP to match his trophy wife. In addition, the fact that she is under investigation demonstrates a clear lack of judgment by McCain. What if the allegations are true? What if they impeach her? Or could that be McCain's strategy? If they win the election and then she is impeached, obviously she would gracefully step down leaving him the opportunity to name her successor -- probably Joe Lieberman who he wanted to name in the first place. This is first-rate sleaze ball tactics. And, as women, we should be highly insulted because she was not chosen for her qualifications but for her looks.

So, how will this affect other petitions? Or for that matter, will this decision also have an effect on resolutions that are adopted by the Legislature to amend the constitution or the ballot question that follows when the proposed amendment is adopted during two consecutive sessions? I think the Court has gone down a slippery slope, and appointed Justices are beginning to sound more reasonable to avoid political decisions such as this one.

The Sun acts like this is a recent decision. The court denied the petition on June 8, 2008, and a certified copy was either delivered or mailed to the parties on June 19, including the Legislative Counsel. So, who knew what and when? Andy why the delay in reporting the court's decision? If the court denied the petition BEFORE the Special Session, why did the Senate kill AB 2, clarifying the Legislature's intent that comped meals were to be taxed? These are the questions that journalists should be asking.