Do lawmakers really want inertia on taxes?

To the editor:

Let me get this straight. State Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno, is worried that the citizen committee expected to propose changes in taxes and state spending to improve the quality of life in Nevada "must not be filled with tax users" (Tuesday Review-Journal, "Raggio calls for balance"). This from the same senator who is largely responsible for back-room negotiations with Democrats resulting in the largest tax increase in Nevada history.

All this at a time when businesses are folding, gaming is down at least 15 percent, residents are losing their jobs and homes, and many residents have left the state -- school enrollment is down by several thousand.

This is like giving the keys of a shiny new car to a kid who has never been in one, much less knows how to drive.

If the citizens committee does not understand the budget and structure of the state government, its recommendations are useless. Instead, their output will generate emotional fuel for both tax cutters and tax users.

Perhaps this inertia is exactly what our legislators want. For if the public really knew the math, there just might be a way to satisfy constitutional requirements with less money.

Companies have to continually reinvent themselves to stay competitive and viable, unless the federal government provides a bailout. The same should be true for government.

Restructuring and throwing out unnecessary or underachieving programs, departments and systems that do not contribute to stated goals leads to success with less.

Maureen Karas

LAS VEGAS

On the rails

To the editor:

Much has been written about what columnist John L. Smith recently called the "spirited debate" over the DesertXpress and Maglev proposals for high-speed rail from Las Vegas to Southern California. Much of that debate has belittled the DesertXpress project for ending at Victorville, Calif. Now, thanks to Adrienne Packer's recent story in the Review-Journal, we learned that the Maglev project extends to -- guess where? -- Primm.

And as Ms. Packer discovered, DesertXpress will link to a California rail system at Palmdale with connections to existing rail from San Diego to San Francisco. Maglev proposes an ill-defined link to Anaheim. Have you been to Anaheim lately? Can you imagine finding room for a new rail line in that crowded environment?

Maglev's spokesperson claims that construction on that project can start in 18 months. This is unlikely since a project of this scope would require a minimum of three years to complete the extensive environmental review, coordination with other landowners and agencies, and the permitting required.

A search of the Federal Railroad Administration Web site turned up this statement about the Maglev project: "Las Vegas to Anaheim Project -- A Notice of Intent to prepare a Program EIS was issued and published in the Federal Register on May 20, 2004. Work in this EIS has been delayed due to funding constraints."

In other words, no work has been done to move this permitting process forward since 2004.

The same Web site contains this information about DesertXpress: "Environmental Impact Statement: The FRA is serving as the lead federal agency for the environmental review of the DesertXpress High-Speed Passenger Train project and has prepared the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). ... The DEIS has been prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Surface Transportation Board (STB), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the National Park Service (NPS). ... "

The Web site also reveals that public comment on the EIS ended May 22, which means that a final EIS is being prepared.

What seems like the best alternative, spending $45 million in taxpayer funding as a down payment on about 40 miles of publicly financed rail line, or relying on private capital and initiative to provide a link to another rail system?

Glen Boyd

LAS VEGAS

Going green

To the editor:

My compliments to Gene Rowe for his Friday letter questioning the value of the Boulder City solar plant. Thank you for printing it.

Green is not necessary all that it is cracked up to be. But we taxpayers do not find out the truth until our money is invested and a knowledgeable man such as Mr. Rowe takes the time to investigate and has the ability to put it in laymen's language.

Ethanol is another mess.

The bottom line is all these so-called wonderful ideas are the result of powerful lobbyists selling their wares to politicians who have no knowledge about much. If the concept does work, they can be heroes and use it to be re-elected. If it doesn't, they are never held responsible for anything.

A classic example is Washington, D.C., today and the useless bunch there and the waste that is bankrupting the country.

Tom Dunlap

LAS VEGAS