There’s no science behind budget cuts

To the editor:

The Clark County School District has already planned devastating budget cuts that will likely result in larger class sizes than we already have -- I have 51 students in one of my biology honors classes.

The 6 percent salary reduction and freeze on step raises proposed by Gov. Jim Gibbons is a slap in the face to all educators, but consider for a moment the effect on science teachers. Rightly, students must now pass high school biology and the science portion of the Nevada High School Proficiency Exam to graduate. A laboratory class, Science Foundations, is now mandated for seniors who fail the proficiency test.

Meanwhile, my high school's science department has one human torso model to share for the study of human anatomy. We have no budget to replace disposable supplies. I have personally invested thousands of dollars to purchase equipment so I can do my job effectively. This is pretty much standard for science teachers. Also keep in mind that most educators spend hours and hours each week grading papers.

The number of science graduates deciding to teach likely will dwindle to nothing.

Rather than enact the proposed cuts, the Senate should seek a solution similar to that recently reached for city of Las Vegas employees: A more modest, temporary salary reduction should be accompanied by an increase in the length of our contract.

WILLLIAM R. FOUTS

LAS VEGAS

Business-friendly

To the editor:

In response to the Jan. 13 article, "Group backs raising taxes," kudos to Cara Roberts of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and especially Andy Matthews of the Nevada Policy Research Institute, who were quoted in the report.

Both are absolutely right when it comes to the reality of raising taxes on people and businesses in our current bad economic times. The results are disastrous, squelching entrepreneurship and investment in existing businesses while discouraging new businesses from opening in a higher tax environment. Businesses should be able to make and keep profits just like we should be able to make and keep our own money by lowering taxes. That approach actually stimulates the economy.

Just take a look at the states of California, New York and Michigan. Businesses cannot survive in those bastions of progressive thought, and they are leaving and coming to states like Nevada, which have business-friendly tax structures. California, New York and Michigan are also nearly bankrupt because of Democrat-controlled legislatures that think higher taxes are the only answer to support big government growth.

We don't need advice from liberal think tanks like the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, which advocates bigger government and sticking it to the taxpayer. Nevada's government needs to tighten its belt and make cuts in unnecessary programs, services and jobs, just like the rest of us have to, or it will go down the path of our neighbor, California.

DIANA ORROCK

LAS VEGAS

Sierra Harry

To the editor:

Your Jan. 14 editorial about the Senate wilderness bill did not tell the entire story. You quoted a glowing report by Mike Matz, executive director of the Campaign for America's Wilderness, which stated that people will be able to hunt and fish and enjoy many other outdoor activities in wilderness areas.

He failed to tell your readers that motorized vehicles are not allowed in wilderness. This keeps out the handicapped, the elderly and 99 percent of the people who want to use and enjoy the land.

Of course, this standard does not apply to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

A picture in the May 31, 1996, Review-Journal showed Harry Reid with folks from the Sierra Club and Friends of Nevada Wilderness. They were using a Nevada National Guard helicopter to check out wilderness study areas. The same rules apply in a study area, as though it were wilderness -- no motorized vehicles. I guess "Sierra Harry" didn't know that a helicopter is a motorized vehicle.

I called the Bureau of Land Management and asked why Sen. Reid was not cited, as this was a violation of federal law. The answer that I received was, "I guess it was because he is a senator."

Sen. Reid is responsible for the creation of 2 million acres of wilderness in Nevada that are off-limits for multiple land users. I sure hope the Review-Journal will remind its readers of this fact when Sen. Reid runs for re-election next year.

CECIL FREDI

LAS VEGAS

THE WRITER IS PRESIDENT OF HUNTER'S ALERT.

Footing the bill

To the editor:

Just for grins Monday I Googled "who is paying for this inauguration," and I read some interesting data. The estimated cost of this inauguration will be in the neighborhood of $150 million. Some of this will be footed by the taxpayer, as usual.

The inauguration committee -- most of its members were on President Obama's election committee -- insists that the majority will come from private funding. Read "corporate donations" there. The files show the banks will donate the most. These would be the same folks Washington has showered with money of late. So in other words "our tax dollars" again.

President Obama's litany of "change" seems to be more of the same. Those who lobby the most get the most. If he were truly looking to "change" anything, I would think he would have, in these tough times, dialed it back and had simple but stately swearing in ceremonies and celebrations.

Dave Dobbins

HENDERSON