WEEKLY EDITORIAL RECAP

WEDNESDAY

'WE MIGHT ... CLOSE'

Last year, a Review-Journal report exposed the abuse of University Medical Center's emergency room by 80 illegal immigrants with failing kidneys. The dialysis treatments provided to these noncitizens costs more than $2 million per month, with the bills forwarded to Clark County taxpayers. ... Nevada's congressional delegation agreed the situation demanded a response.

Six months after that report, there's been a response, all right -- by illegals. The newspaper revealed Monday that 84 illegal immigrants now receive dialysis care at UMC -- about eight per day -- and as they get sicker, they cost Clark County taxpayers and UMC even larger sums of money.

All the public officials who spend your money and enable this crisis, meanwhile, still aren't talking to each other about the problem. ...

This is a lack of will, plain and simple. It is absolute cowardice.

No one expects ICE officials to storm UMC's emergency room, detach sick patients from dialysis machines, bus them to the Mexican border and dump them at the curb (and certain death). They must be made as healthy as possible before deportation, and provided with care during transport, if needed.

But how is it humanitarian to allow these illegals -- at 84 and growing -- to bankrupt a public hospital that provides the region's best trauma care?

THURSDAY

THE OREGON TRAIL

Never underestimate the power of public employee unions.

That's the takeaway from Tuesday's special election in Oregon, where voters approved two measures that will raise taxes on businesses and the wealthy, preserving the jobs, salaries and benefits of government workers at the expense of those in the private sector.

It's a lesson Nevada's industry leaders should heed as this state's lawmakers prepare to address an estimated $900 million revenue shortfall. ...

As with California, Oregon has merely postponed the tough fiscal decisions that need to be made in tough times. By raising taxes during a recession, Oregon faces an even harder fall than before.