ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 8

Republican Kevin Child finds himself playing the role of the longest of long shots in the Assembly District 8 race against Democrat Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley.

Democrats hold nearly a 2-to-1 voter registration advantage over Republicans in the district. Buckley raised $303,000 in contributions by the end of the first reporting period on Aug. 5, and Child reported no contributions.

Unlike most Republicans, Child is calling for nearly doubling the state gaming tax as a way to balance the state budget and prevent some of the expected additional cuts in state spending. He also favors taxing churches.

"A 12 percent tax isn't going to kill the guys in gaming," Child said.

Buckley has been touring the state in a series of town hall meetings to re-examine the state's financial structure.

Her plan does not call for tax increases, but critics might contend that would happen because she wants to look at the tax exemptions that some companies enjoy.

She argues everything must be examined because the state cannot afford additional spending reductions of 14 percent to 18 percent after already chopping state spending by $1.2 billion.

"We cannot sustain cuts of that magnitude," Buckley said. "Education already is underfunded. Public safety would be jeopardized. We have to come up with another plan. I believe working together, Nevadans can come up with a plan that will work."

Buckley also is counting on voters in Clark and Washoe counties to approve an advisory question in November to increase the room tax rate by 3 percentage points.

At the same time, the Nevada State Education Association is circulating a petition to raise the room tax that probably will be forwarded to the Legislature for consideration early in the 2009 session.

Under a clause written in the petition by Buckley, money raised during the first two years would be placed in the state general fund budget and could be used by legislators to deal with the shortfall. The increase would bring in $150 million a year.

She is confident that Gov. Jim Gibbons, who frequently states his opposition to new taxes, will sign on to the increase proposal if the advisory question results show that the proposal has public support.

"Times will get better," Buckley added. "If we work together, we can weather this storm."

If cuts are needed in 2009, she said, the Legislature first must set spending priorities and follow them.

Child lost to Buckley in a landslide in 2000. In the spring, he hired a lawyer to contest Buckley's right to run for another term.

Buckley was elected first in 1994, and the term limits constitutional amendment restricts legislators to 12 years in state office. But the Nevada Supreme Court ruled in July that another clause in the constitution gave Buckley and 12 other legislators the opportunity to run for one more term.

"She hasn't done a damn thing for Nevada," Child said. "Nothing has changed since she got in office."

Although Buckley authored bills to allow Nevadans to buy low-cost drugs from Canada, to limit the interest rates of payday loan companies and to cap increases in property taxes, Child still disregards that legislation.

Buckley has been named the top Assembly member in polls conducted by the Review-Journal for the past five legislative session.

"When I get up there, I will find where to cut," Child added. "There is a lot of fat. Let's get real, we are at a crisis level."

Buckley has nothing to say about Child. She repeated her intention to call on citizens to express their views on what the state can do to cope with the financial crisis during her town hall meeting.

"Every idea offered (by the public) should be examined," Buckley added. "We need to look at a four-day work week for employees and see if it will save money. I want to work with Nevadans to come up with solutions."

Contact reporter Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.