State lottery could pad education budget
To the editor:
In response to the Saturday letter from Lois White regarding educational needs in Nevada:
I'm for a state-run lottery. In Florida, a lottery was created in 1988 by a constitutional amendment approved in the general election of 1986. The point of the lottery is to give extra funding to state education, and it was mandated that a significant portion of all revenue go to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.
This fund would be used for the betterment of the educational system by supplying much-needed money toward new school construction, books, new teachers to reduce class size, financial aid and scholarships.
I'm a retired firefighter from Illinois who quit high school at 16 and graduated from college at 39. So I know education is very important. I also know how some politicians act when they see extra money. So if a lottery should pass, I would like to see a panel of citizens formed as an oversight committee to make sure the money is used only for this purpose.
Since 1988, the Florida lottery has generated $17 billion in revenue. A percentage of the gross revenue goes to prizes, as well as other expenses associated with running the lottery, but there's a lot left over.
I've heard the stories about how the poor would buy tickets instead of milk for the kids. Well, almost every store I've been in here has slots right by the doors. I also hear how a lottery would hurt the casinos. Well, I travel to California or Arizona to buy tickets, and still visit my local casinos -- as do many other citizens.
Vernon F. Pechous
HENDERSON
Education follies
To the editor:
In her Saturday letter advocating more education spending, Lois White wrote, "If we look at the highest-ranking states, we will notice they spend more and get better results from their students." I have only one thing to say: Washington, D.C.
Victor Moss
LAS VEGAS
Mining tax
To the editor:
In response to the Saturday letter, "Capitalistic way," in which Michael Kreps advocates higher taxes on mining:
I suspect the mining industry in Nevada also pays 8 percent sales tax on their consumables. The 5 percent tax Mr. Kreps deems too low is "net proceeds of minerals," a form of income tax. How much Nevada state income tax do you pay, Mr. Kreps? Be careful what you wish for.
Dave Cartier
HENDERSON
Illegal care
To the editor:
The continuing abuse of free dialysis treatment by illegals is appalling (Monday Review-Journal). Here are a few suggestions to help cure the woes at the University Medical Center:
1) Bring back California Proposition 187 (1994), which includes language that "no one may receive public benefits until they have proven their legal right to reside in the U.S." Only we'll call it Nevada Proposition 321 (2010).
2) Amend the 1986 law that instead will be known as the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act For U.S. Citizens.
3) Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., Commissioner Lawrence Weekly, Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and UMC's chief operating officer, Brian Brannman, can meet with Mexican consulate Mariano Gas and coordinate continuing care to repatriate patients to their country of origin.
4) Once the powers that be have secured the patients' health care in their homeland, they could then charter a double-decker tour bus that seats 75 to 80 people to provide safe passage home. The average cost would be about $2,000 per person.
Illegals are racking up more than $2 million a month in free dialysis care at UMC.
You do the math.
Tom Shaw
LAS VEGAS
Too much detail
To the editor:
Was it truly necessary to disclose such disturbing details of the homicide of Melodie Walker in your Tuesday article, "California man arrested in death of woman in northwest valley"?
I found it extremely disrespectful to her family and friends that the reporter felt it necessary to give a play by play of Ms. Walker's horrific death.
It's unfortunate that reporters don't take into consideration the feelings of others before writing articles.
It would have been sufficient to report the sexual assault and her subsequent death.
Kristen Zidzik
HENDERSON
Ranching losses
To the editor:
I read with little surprise your Friday article about the losses in the water authority's ranching operations.
It's no surprise to me that there are huge losses in an operation that probably has several layers of management in Las Vegas running an operation that they know little or nothing about.
Even experienced ranchers working in the field with hands-on management have a hard time making a living. The ranch hands are probably in heaven with the salaries, benefits and improved working conditions associated with the urban water authority.
Probably the only way they will make any money or even break even is to lease the operations out to experienced ranchers.
John Joines
LAS VEGAS
