Where are our priorities in Nevada?

To the editor:

Some very disturbing facts surfaced in your Wednesday article, "Report puts state last in education."

According to the Annie E. Casey nonprofit foundation Kids Count, Nevada ranks last in public education, 49th among the states for children's economic well being, 46th in children's health and 41st in family and community issues such as children living in poverty. Nevada's overall standing is 48th, according to Stephen Brown, executive director of Nevada Kids Count.

The only states with lower overall standings are Mississippi and New Mexico.

These statistics are even more disturbing when juxtaposed against the salary comparisons of public-sector employees with their national counterparts. Overall, Nevada's public-sector employee compensation packages - including Las Vegas, Henderson and Clark County - rank 5th nationally. One can conclude only that Nevada voters have decided to make our public-sector employees among the highest paid in the nation while our children suffer. Otherwise, why would we keep electing politicians who sign off on these extravagant union contracts?

Mike Edens

Las Vegas

Good sense

To the editor:

In his recent letter, Richard York states that the real-estate bubble was a result of a lack of regulation, I don't think so.

The bubble had nothing to do with a lack of regulation. There was a lack of good sense by buyers and those making loans, yes. But we had plenty of regulation.

Duane McDonald

Bullhead City

GOP lies

To the editor:

What is the big deal about the House Ethics Committee conducting an investigation of Rep. Shelley Berkley? It's supposedly a non-partisan action because the committee is split between Democrats and Republicans. But since it was the Republican Party that filed the complaint, this is just one more Republican witch hunt.

Rep. Berkley is criticized for advising years ago that favors be given to county commissioners and judges. But this is only business as usual for all politicians.

By helping to keep the UMC Kidney Transplant Center open, she was helping Nevada residents, not just her husband. Why do so many people go out of state for medical care? Because Nevada is not exactly a medical Mecca.

The Republicans are building for a media blitz against Rep. Berkeley. They know that people are dumb and that they will believe the commercial they see the most. The Republicans have the money to inundate TV with lies and innuendoes. That is the only way they can win. That and by stealing the people's right to vote by voter suppression.

Who is the criminal here? A politician who advises that favors be given to anyone who can be helpful or a political hack who calculatingly disenfranchises people by falsely claiming that voter fraud is rampant? This is the big Republican lie.

Based on this lie, Republican governors are putting into place stringent and unnecessary rules to prevent people from voting.

This is the only way that Republicans can win this election - by lying, cheating and stealing.

NADIA ROMEO

LAS VEGAS