Las Vegas Sun

"What this poll really reinforces, too, is how little legislators are known by those they represent."

This quote is the key statement of the whole column. Las Vegas is a transient town and many people, especially is Senate District 6, weren't living there the last time these seats were on the ballot. The lack of knowledge of local politicians is amplified by the general apathy and lack of understanding of state government. I can't tell you how many of my friends do not know who is representing them, or even what the difference is between a City Councilperson, County Commissioner, State Assemblymember or State Senator. It will come down to who has the money to get their names and faces plastered across town and who has enough shoe leather to canvass the district.

While I personally believe it is a good thing that Nevada has a part-time legislature, it also keeps name recognition to a minimum as you usually see the names on the news during Regular and Special Sessions.

What people do see of state government is the Hepatitis Scare, insufficient infrastructure that is not keeping up with growth and schools that are sub-par. I am not laying blame or saying who has the best solution. I am just stating that this is what your average Nevadan has seen of state government.

These features together could spell trouble for any incumbent, but especially Republicans this year.

This is another great example that you can do pretty much anything you want with numbers, and that with the right amount of "spin" you can frame the discussion how you want. What's worse is that very few people, including myself, even bothered to read the actual report.

Politics is all about telling someone why you are right and they are wrong. In this instance, it is that the Chamber wanted to paint State and Local (I also noticed that city and county employees were included - not just state employees employees are taking money from the taxpayer and it's not spent wisely.

This will be an interesting Special Session. I can't wait to see what levels of inaction our elected leaders rise to.

Let's call this meeting what it is - political grandstanding. The Governor knows the legislature does not want a special session with the entire Assembly and half the Senate up for re-election. They don't want to give up campaigning and they sure as hell don't want to go on the record with unpopular spending cuts or even less popular tax increases five months before the general election.

While I would love to see true political leadership here, I'm not holding my breath. But I do enjoy the infighting on the ill-conceived Krolicki band-aid plan. One last question - with the state having so many budgetary issues, why is the Lt. Governor in Hong Kong? Aren't there better ways to spend our tax dollars?

I haven't read the referenced initiatives. What I find laughable is that two people who are front men for a Special Interest are accusing the SOS of being in cahoots with special interests. I'm think of a reference with a pot and a kettle...

My opinion on this topic is different. I look at this study as a good start. While I don't normally agree with Sen. Beers, I do agree that you can make numbers do what you want and that you usually find what you are looking for.

First, we need to enforce the laws on the books when it comes to immigration. Second, we need to ensure that businesses are only hiring legal workers. Finally, put pressure (other than NAFTA and other trade agreements) on our Latin American neighbors to improve their economies so the need to emigrate is not there.

The immigration debate in the US has not changed in 200 years. The hatred is always directed at those individuals that will do work for less money. We really haven't come much further than "No Irish Need Apply."

I disagree with the proposition that these jobs are jobs that legal Americans want to do. Who wants to do the work that many of these "illegals" are doing? The reason they have jobs is that everyday Americans don't want to do these jobs.

What saddens me is the lack of leadership coming from both the Legislative and Executive branches of government. What's worse is that this lack of leadership has led to the Special Interests and Citizenry turning to the initiative process simply to address the issues they see, from their point of view.

Time and time again, we see narrow-minded initiatives without consideration for future consequences. The current row of education funding, term limits and the smoking ban are examples of good ideas that were left open to interpretation. Had our Legislative branch shown leadership these ideas could have been vetted and ambiguities cleared up ahead of passage.

It's time for the citizens of Nevada to pay attention to our elected officials and hold them accountable for the state of our State. Alas, that is probably asking too much...

Again, another example of trying to use the initiatve process to make public policy. The only reason this is even being considered is because it plays well in public and because the perception is that it will be paid for by tourists. This flies in the face of reason because when we depend on a cyclical industry to fund our public services we end up with budget deficits during the down periods. Oh. Wait. That's where we are now...

It's time that we elect Legislators (and 2010 a Governor) that will show some true leadership.

That's a very impressive job by the Student Advisory Council. If only our media and politicians were that astute when asking questions and relaying that information to their customers and constituents.

No offense, but this isn't news. We were notified that our line was being suspended months ago...

I have to agree with Johnathon on his points. Mistakes were made. Some, as the story indicates, were entirely predictable. Some of them, the unsecured ballot boxes are one example, are inexcusable. I'd like to know when Bally's was actually booked. Chances are, it we knew the race was going to be as tight as it is and that the campaigns would have mobilized. This is the first time in decades a county convention actually mattered. Problems were bound to happen. In past years, attendance was so low that anyone who showed up got to fill the delegate spots to the state convention.

I volunteered to help staff the event. I am trying to be more active in the party and be a part of the solution going forward. If half the people that spout off on blogs and comment boards actually got off their chairs and offered to help, we can pull together and keep our eyes on the ultimate prize - a Democrat in the White House on January 21, 2009!