LETTERS: Sandoval’s big budget fails smell test
To the editor:
The analysis of Gov. Brian Sandoval’s 2015 budget is the only article I’ve yet read which cites the state’s actual revenue projections (“Dig a little deeper starting July 1,” June 7 Review-Journal). Thank you. But does the budget pass the smell test? Not so much.
Gov. Sandoval says, “We’ve structured a new revenue policy and budget that should stand the test of time.” I remember the last time someone said that: Gov. Kenny Guinn, when he and the Legislature raised Nevada taxes by some $760 million just 12 years ago. Gov. Sandoval’s biennial budget increased taxes by $1.1 billion — in a state of about 3 million people. New taxes add $754 million, which means that without any new taxes, we’d have a $346 million increase to spend on 385,000 public school students. Was that not enough?
Instead, we get things such as the commerce tax ($229 million), which, according to the article, will be levied on “giants such as Wal-Mart, car manufacturers, pharmaceutical and telecom companies,” based on their Nevada-generated revenues. But I wonder, does “car manufacturers” include Tesla? I’m betting that it doesn’t, because Gov. Sandoval granted Elon Musk $1.3 billion in tax incentives just last year.
And forgive another presumption, but I’m betting that government-sanctioned monopolies such as Cox Communications and NV Energy (a Berkshire Hathaway company) will find a way to skate, as well.
The second-largest arrow in Gov. Sandoval’s quiver is on cigarettes, raising the tax from 80 cents to $1.80 per pack ($192.3 million, plus $15.5 million in additional sales tax). This is the perfect exercise in political cynicism — and never mind that the left usually hates regressive taxes. First, select an unpopular minority; second, double their taxes (pre-Gov. Guinn, the Nevada tax was 38 cents); and third, justify it as “populist.” Huey Long would applaud.
The modified business tax ($190.4 million) and the business license increase ($81.4 million) also fail the test. And curiously, the expansion of the live entertainment tax doesn’t kick in until Oct. 1 — after the Burning Man Festival and the Electric Daisy Carnival have left. One wonders if a 9 percent dip on their gross receipts this year might have created a debate in the 2015 Legislature. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I guess we’ll never know.
As a musician for the past 25 years, I’ve regularly left Strip hotels at 3 a.m. On the way to the parking garage, my back-door exits have led me past Dumpsters reeking of bad fish, spoiled vegetables and what civilized America throws away. Gov. Sandoval’s budget reminds me, vividly, of those smells.
BOB ASHMAN
LAS VEGAS
Confederate controversy
To the editor:
Regarding the article on UNLV’s nickname (“Reid calls on regents to revisit ‘Rebels’ as UNLV’s nickname,” June 24 Review-Journal): Sen. Harry Reid proudly authored legislation that created Great Basin National Park near Ely in 1986. According to the senator’s website, he claims to have consistently passed legislation to “protect and enhance Great Basin National Park and the surrounding communities in White Pine County.”
This legislative protection and enhancement would logically extend to one of the mountain peaks located within Great Basin National Park, curiously named after Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America.
If Sen. Reid can express moral outrage with the name “Rebels” within days of the recent Confederate flag controversy, why has he not expressed the same moral outrage during the past 29 years for a Nevada mountain peak named after Jefferson Davis, located within a national park that he takes credit for creating?
KEN MAYER
LAS VEGAS
Reporting winnings
To the editor:
The editorial concerning the IRS proposal to reduce the threshold for reporting gambling winnings from $1,200 to $600 was right on (“Rewards scarred,” June 17 Review-Journal). Another important aspect that wasn’t mentioned is that although you can deduct gambling losses to the extent of winnings, winnings do increase your adjusted gross income. That’s especially important to seniors.
Higher adjusted gross income can cause an increase in Medicare, prescription and Medicare supplemental coverage costs. Also, it can increase the taxes paid on Social Security income, the deductions allowed for medical expenses and other itemized deductions.
LARRY GARBER
LAS VEGAS
Papal politics
To the editor:
Regarding Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical (“Pope demands ‘decisive action’ on climate,” June 19 Review-Journal), not since Pope Paul V and the inquisitional ruling regarding a heliocentric solar system supported by Galileo’s work has a pope demonstrated so clearly why the church should leave science to the scientists and politics to the politicians.
Pope Francis has returned the church to a foolish path with his stumbling opinions on economic systems used by various countries around the world by clearly advocating for a socialistic course. His position regarding global warming is equally as wrong-minded and scientifically asinine.
Pope Francis is taking the church down a historically and scientifically labeled dead-end street with his positions on both issues.
DAVID BAKER
LAS VEGAS
