To the editor:

I was deeply disappointed to read the Review-Journal's Feb. 16 editorial, "Lights out," regarding the energy tax that funds utility bill subsidies for the poor.

The piece implied that the program had deliberately been designed to provide benefits for people "well above the poverty line" in order to validate the need for the program. According to an article on the same topic in the Feb. 15 edition of the Review Journal, a family of four must have less than $2,356 in monthly income to qualify for this program. I'm not sure what the poverty line is, but that's a small enough income to satisfy me as to the need for programs like this.

Additionally, the editorial argued that because there is a surplus now, with barely 16,000 of the 150,000 eligible households receiving the benefit, we should "lower the tax rate to reduce the surplus." What the editorial failed to say is that the surplus would be eaten up quickly with some concerted outreach. Neither did the writers include the actual dollar amount the average residential electric customer in Southern Nevada pays for this program -- 47 cents a month, or $6.64 a year. And the average natural gas customer pays only 13 cents a month, or $1.56 a year.

Is that really too much for us to pay to protect low-income families from the extreme heat of our Southern Nevada summers?

THELMA M. CLARKE

LAS VEGAS

To the editor:

Nevada Sen. John Ensign's response to concerns about protecting Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil development was misleading.

Sen. Ensign's claim that oil development is needed to lessen our reliance on foreign oil fails to explain that a decade would pass before any oil would reach the market, reducing our reliance by only 4 percent, according to federal forecasts.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton refers to the refuge as a "flat, white nothingness," while assuring us that development would occur with great environmental sensitivity. How can we believe great care would be taken when no recognition of environmental value exists to begin with?

At a time when outside forces would attack our fundamental American values, failing to protect our remaining natural heritage is a gravely unpatriotic act. To those who would sell our national identity to the highest bidder, I ask, "what part of 'National Wildlife Refuge' don't you understand?"

I am grateful for Nevada Sen. Harry Reid's opposition to drilling in the refuge, and I urge Sen. Ensign to act patriotically by protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for America's future generations.

Matthew Lien

WHITEHORSE, CANADA

THE WRITER REPRESENTS THE CARIBOU COMMONS PROJECT, A COALITION OF CONSERVATION AND ABORIGINAL REPRESENTATIVES.

To the editor:

It is intriguing to see Clark County's interest in trash along the Strip ("Blame dumped on trash hauler," Feb. 18). I wish the Department of Transportation and the county would take as much interest in the trash left behind by Republic Services of Southern Nevada along Interstate 15 north of Las Vegas.

It is disgusting that this company has been allowed to continue to create this mess. There must be 1 million plastic shopping bags strung out along the interstate between the city limits and the exit to the dump at U.S. Highway 93. I have heard that Republic Services blames the tourists. If that is so, why does the debris stop at the U.S. 93 exit?

I think Republic Services shows an arrogant lack of corporate and public responsibility for not cleaning up its mess and not preventing it in the future.

Let's keep in mind this is the first thing our visitors see when arriving from the north, and first impressions do last.

Bruce Holloway

LAS VEGAS

To the editor:

Your Sunday editorial concerning pay raises for lawmakers was excellent.

I am a college professor who earns a salary for performance. Nevada lawmakers do not deserve a pay raise based on their very poor performance over the past few years. The governor and legislators voted for an extremely high budget and record tax increases a few years ago only to realize that there is now a $300 million surplus that they propose to return to us via motor vehicle registration rebates.

I wonder who taught them mathematics and financial responsibility? I would have lost my position a long time ago if I were that irresponsible.

John Rago

LAS VEGAS

To the editor:

On Feb. 14, a Review-Journal editorial, "'Protecting' tax increases," focused on the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada's legislative agenda.

The editorial quoted PLAN as stating that returning any of the state budget surplus to taxpayers "would be detrimental " Whenever I see a short quote followed by an ellipsis I always wonder what was left out. Here's the full quote: "This would be detrimental to all of Nevada's underfunded budgets, particularly education, where Nevada is still near the bottom in the nation for per-pupil expenditures."

The Review-Journal also faulted PLAN for wanting to increase the human resources budget. It is no secret that Nevada consistently ranks poorly when compared with other states' social safety net programs. In state public welfare expenditures per capita, we rank 49th. We're ranked 51st in per capita Medicaid spending. And, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families for a single parent with two children has been stuck at $348 per month for more than a dozen years.

Cheered on by the editors of the Review-Journal, Nevada is well on its way to winning the race to the bottom in providing essential services to its residents.

As for PLAN's legislative agenda, we will spend every ounce of our energy advocating for adequate funding of education and social safety net programs.

Paul R. Brown

LAS VEGAS

THE WRITER IS SOUTHERN NEVADA DIRECTOR OF THE PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE OF NEVADA.

To the editor:

State Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, needs to get his facts straight about the recall of California Gov. Gray Davis ("Senator introduces amendment to restrict recalls," Tuesday).

Sen. Coffin stated the reason for the recall as "somebody with millions of dollars and a pretty face" wanting the job. History shows that California voters finally realized that Gray Davis was a rotten governor who made bad decisions, lied about the budget and continually wanted to raise taxes.

I wonder whether Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn can see any similarities?

Carl D. Calos

LAS VEGAS