68°F
weather icon Clear

Just whose ox is being gored? someone needs to ask our legislators

We've heard the Democratic and Republican legislators all week in the special session chide the gaming and mining industries for being such skin-flints unwilling to part with a few million dollars to help the starving state government get through famine and disaster.

When gaming lobbyists pointed out the state's largest casinos bled red ink in the amount of $6.7 billion in fiscal year 2009 and laid off nearly 34,500, state Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, said, "We are not done. Gaming must participate."

"You are absolutely wasting our time," Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, said business and gaming lobbyists said they couldn't bear additional taxes or fees. "You have to be at the table now. I live here. I love it here. I don't want to see it unravel."

"Republicans and Democrats need to work together and we need to put the state's needs first," said Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas.

On Saturday, Review-Journal reporter Jennifer Robison put the pain in perspective.

Take a look at this chart and find the pain. Find who is bleeding and whose needs are being put first.

 

 

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Israel reopens crossing into Gaza; UN says no aid entering

The Israeli military said it has reopened its Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza days after it was closed following a deadly Hamas rocket attack

US pauses bomb shipment to Israel, Pentagon chief confirms

The move was made over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.