LETTERS: Heck’s conservative credentials waning

The latest story on Rep. Joe Heck is typical ("Heck announces opposition to Iran nuclear deal," Sept. 3 Review-Journal). When running for office, Rep. Heck runs as a conservative. When his vote means nothing, he votes conservative, such as by "repealing" Obamacare.

When his vote means something, such as funding Obamacare or funding President Barack Obama's unconstitutional amnesty, he is right there voting with the Democrats every time. Mr. Heck voted for Obamatrade, the fast-track authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership. A conservative voter would have opposed it.

So for Mr. Heck to now announce his opposition to the Iran deal means nothing. The damage has already been done. Is he the best Republicans can come up with in trying to replace Sen. Harry Reid?

Marcia Romano

Las Vegas

Lost Obamacare funds

The Obamacare-created health co-ops are dropping like flies, and federal funding to the tune of more than $2 billion will likely not be repaid ("Nevada Obamacare insurer fails," Aug. 27 Review-Journal). No big deal.

President Barack Obama promised us not one penny of taxpayer funds would be spent on the Affordable Care Act. So I assume he will pay us taxpayers back with his $300,000-per-event speaking fees after he leaves the White House. It will only take him 6,667 appearances to get our money back.

Troy Pyles

St. George, Utah

Money misspent on cops

Once again, government leaders are willing to raise taxes to put more cops on the street ("More cops tax hike OK'd," Wednesday Review-Journal). How about raising taxes to put more teachers in the classroom?

Clark County public school classrooms are bursting at the seams — sometimes 40 students in a class — which makes for a lousy learning environment. All credible research shows better educated people commit less crime. So here is a novel idea for our city's leaders: how about spending money on the front end to reduce class sizes and provide better education for students, which will reduce the need for more police on the back end?

Sometimes simple solutions are best in the long run.

Robert Bencivenga

Henderson

Paiutes and Gold Butte

I appreciated the opinion piece co-authored by Darren Daboda of the Moapa Band of Paiutes ("Protect Gold Butte, before visitors overrun it," Aug. 31 Review-Journal). It reminded me of the Native American voice that is often lost in our debates over public land.

The Paiutes have deep connections to our desert landscape in Southern Nevada. Their people have traveled this land for a long time and have formed a special relationship to Gold Butte, a bond that is deeper and more complex than currently acknowledged. If you look carefully, you'll find their story in Gold Butte — on rock walls, in shady overhangs that provided shelter and even along the flat desert land. This place represents a connection between people and their cultural lifeway, both past and present.

Rayette Martin

Las Vegas