The wholesalers are charging the full tax amount to the consumers based on the retail rates, but then they only pay the hotels (and consequently the county) the tax amount based on the net (or discounted wholesale rate), and the online companies keep the tax difference as a profit margin. For instance, the online companies sell the room to the consumer for $100 and collect $12 in taxes. They then pay the hotel $70 for the same room, and the hotels only collect and pay the county $8.40 in taxes. The online company keeping $3.60 of the money the consumer thought they were paying in taxes as an additional profit. You tell me if you think this is fair.

The banks are in possession of thousands of homes that they will not release for re-sale in an effort to keep distressed supply lower, and prices higher. It would make sense for them to consider putting occupants in those homes on lease-option contracts with reasonable monthly rents and a portion to apply to the purchase price. However, "banks" and "common sense" seem to be oxymorons.

Vegas was always a naughty get-away, right from the 40's...people came here to do things they could not do at home. As the destination grew, so did the image and then the facilites to support and take advantage of the demand. The clever advertising supported the image, it did not develop it. It was the investors, builders and visionaries who built the destintion - advertising just came along for the ride. Even if all advertising were to be curtailed, millions of people from around the world would still want to come here because of the long term word of mouth experiences that the resorts have delivered. And as long as they get a good, fun expereince, at a good price, they will come back - clever advertising or not.

Wonder how many other extortion scams Nina has parlayed during her illustrious career? Not a bad gig, if you can get it.

Might as well call it the Kennedy Healthcare Express - DOA

Leave the towers, bypass the lines, otherwise we might as well revert to buggy whips...

Why is "storage" such a big deal with wind and solar generated power? Store that power in the same place you store the power that comes from coal and hydro. Put solar and wind power directly into the grid. When the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow, then turn on the coal and hydro.

I would like to see the unions run the country for a while and see how far they get without big business to employ them.

Someone should ask Ms. Hampton why she did not just say "NO"!

This problem has been going on for over 35 years in Las Vegas, and started way before the internet. Tour operators, airline packagers and tour & travel wholesalsers have been keeping this tax gap as a profit margin while the county, hotels and LVCVA looked the other way. If there is going to be a change made, it needs to be made going forward and not try to reconstruct a formula that did not exist and was not enforced. Otherwise you are going to have to collect money from many companies that no longer exist...good luck...