Big business needs to pay its fair share

With early voting underway, Nevadans have a chance to make our state more prosperous by giving our children a better future denied to them for too long.

A “Yes” vote on Question 3 will help provide an opportunity for every student in Nevada to succeed and will signal to politicians and corporate-controlled special interests that cheating children by failing to properly fund education will no longer be tolerated. Today there is not enough money dedicated to public education to support smaller class sizes, provide technology to every child and prepare our students for the jobs of the future. As a result, too many children are left behind. Voting “Yes” on Question 3 will hold those accountable who support a system where some kids have programs to help them succeed, but many more do not. A “yes” vote on Question 3 sends a powerful message that we will not protect corporate profits at the expense of our most precious resource — our children. “Yes” on 3 is a vote that says all of Nevada’s students should have the resources they need to succeed.

Nevada’s educators know what works for their students, and we can help ensure the funding to assist them and our public schools. The dedicated, predictable education funding that a “yes” vote on Question 3 would provide guarantees all of Nevada’s children will get an opportunity to thrive. Regardless of what the opponents of Question 3 say in the ads they are paying millions of dollars to air, the revenue generated by the proposed tax on big business will go to public and charter schools throughout the state. It is written in black and white on the first page of the initiative. If Question 3 passes, it will become law that the revenue from this tax will go to K-12 public education. Our opponents’ suggestions to the contrary are untrue.

Don’t be fooled by the rhetoric of the corporate-backed opponents of Question 3. To them, any tax they are asked to pay is a poorly written tax.

Nevada is one of only three states without a corporate income tax on business. Despite that free ride, really because of it, we have failed to create the kind of diversified economy Nevada desperately needs to moderate economic ups and downs. The low-tax strategy embraced by corporations and some politicians, and an unwillingness to adequately invest in education, has made it impossible to attract diverse businesses and create high-paying jobs. Studies consistently show that quality schools improve state economies.

Only 13 percent of big businesses will have to pay this tax if Question 3 passes, and they will be helping themselves and smaller companies by investing a modest 2 percent of their revenue in K-12 education.

Unfortunately, big business has a lengthy history of fighting every proposed tax that would require it to pay its fair share. It has shown time and time again that it would rather send its profits to out-of-state shareholders and corporate executives. Veteran lawmaker Peggy Pierce said it best when she addressed big-business lobbyists during the 2013 legislative session: “You guys haven’t liked anything (that would require you to pay) in the quarter of a century I have lived in this state. ... All you ever say is, ‘No!’ ” Everyone needs to accept responsibility for the success of our students. It is long past time that our business community steps up and accepts its share of that responsibility by paying the meager 2 percent Question 3 calls for, so our children get the kind of education everyone says they want for them.

There is no better way to build our economy, help small businesses, and create opportunity for Nevadans than by investing in education. We must do more to give our children a real chance to realize their potential. Voting “yes” on Question 3 will enable us to improve our schools, which will permit our kids to succeed academically. It will help to create better workers, and it will attract more high-paying jobs to Nevada.

Don’t be fooled by the same old rhetoric our opponents have been serving up for decades. Vote yes on Question 3. Our children deserve nothing less, and our future depends on it.

Gary Peck is executive director of the Nevada State Education Association.