Union backs lone Democrat campaigning for governor

The Nevada State Education Association, which represents about 30,000 teachers and support staff, has endorsed Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid for governor.

Reid is the lone Democrat campaigning for the job. Incumbent Jim Gibbons, former federal judge Brian Sandoval and former North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon are running on the Republican side.

The association said it interviewed Reid and Montandon and received a response to its questionnaire from Gibbons. It didn't mention Sandoval, who is leading in polls.

"The choice was clear. Rory Reid had specifics on what he plans to do for K-12 public education and supports the issues we fight for every day," said NSEA President Lynn Warne.

According to the group's Web site: "The primary mission of NSEA is to advocate the professional rights and economic security of its members, while also serving as the prominent voice for excellence in public education in Nevada."

TAX ASSESSORS REVOLT

The Nevada Policy Research Institute, a conservative think tank, continues its series of reports on a burgeoning taxpayer revolt in Northern Nevada that could have statewide implications.

Only this time it is tax assessors in revolt.

Freelance journalist John Dougherty reports that tax assessors have rebuffed a request to appear for a state Board of Equalization hearing Dec. 3.

"The assessors' refusal stunned (Las Vegas accountant and Board of Equalization member Dennis) Meservy, who in an earlier interview Thursday morning predicted all the assessors would attend the meeting. Meservy suggested that the board may issue subpoenas demanding the assessors' appearance. 'We will have to talk to our legal counsel,' he said," the story states.

Taxpayers near Lake Tahoe have long been alleging tax assessors are in violation of state law that requires uniform statewide procedures for appraising property for taxation.

Dougherty reports: "The assessors' refusal to appear before the equalization board comes as increasing public scrutiny into Nevada's property-tax assessment system has revealed a systemic failure by the state Tax Commission and the state Department of Taxation to ensure that county assessors are using uniform methods for the appraisal of property. The state Supreme Court in December 2006 ruled that assessors must use only appraisal techniques that have been approved by the commission, per state law."

The report can be found at www.NPRI.org.

'ASTONISHING' INTERVIEW ABOUT ENSIGN

An interview providing "astonishing" details about Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., and his affair with former employee Cynthia Hampton is scheduled to run tonight on ABC's "Nightline."

Doug Hampton, former aide to Ensign and husband to Cynthia, will appear on the national news program to talk about the affair and allegations of illegal attempts to cover it up.

An ABC News preview promises "astonishing new details about the affair and its many repercussions, including the end of a close 20-year friendship between the two families and the loss of the Hamptons' jobs."

CHECKING HEALTH REFORM FACTS

State Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, on Thursday chided Washington lawmakers for failing to grasp the facts on health care reform legislation.

But an entry about Medicare on the Web site www.factcheck.org contradicts one of Amodei's facts.

During his speech to Boulder City Republican Women, Amodei paraphrased former President Ronald Reagan's use of a quote by former president and political philosopher John Adams who said, "Facts are stubborn things." Amodei was illustrating his criticism of health care legislation from the House and U.S. Senate.

"Legislation at its core is about getting the policy right," Amodei said. "Facts are your friend."

He also said under pending health care reform legislation, "for those of you that care about Medicare don't worry about that, that's kind of going away. Those are facts."

But the Web site www.factcheck.org says it is "outright false" to say health legislation on the table will slash seniors' Medicare benefits.

"The claim that (President Barack) Obama and Congress are cutting seniors' Medicare benefits to pay for the health care overhaul is outright false, though that doesn't keep it from being repeated ad infinitum," the site states.

The entry, headlined "Seven falsehoods about health care," also lists as myths the statements "families will save $2,500" and "illegal immigrants will be covered."

The post was written in August, and the legislation has changed since then and could change further as House and U.S. Senate versions are merged.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.