2012 PRIMARY ELECTION: ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 3

Democrats Peggy Pierce and Matthew J. Tramp square off in the Assembly District 3 primary for a chance to face Phyllis McGuire Moilanen, the lone Republican, who will advance to November's general election.

Pierce, the incumbent, is vying for her sixth and final term in the Assembly. Her goal is to pass legislation for a broad-based business tax that will support public education and help pry Nevada government from the grips of an economic recession.

"We've known for 40 years, study after study, that having a budget based on sales tax and gaming is too volatile," Pierce said.

She noted that almost all large corporations except those in gaming pay no taxes in the state.

Pierce believes the mining industry needs to pay a bigger share of taxes to help balance the budget and repair years of damage to public education.

"It's time to make corporations pay their fair share and relieve the burden from the backs of ordinary people," she said.

With the nation's smallest government, Pierce said Nevada doesn't need to cut operating expenses.

"Nevada could hire 10,000 employees and we'd still have the smallest in the nation," she said.

Tramp, who moved to Las Vegas in 2002 from Kansas, where he was active in politics by serving on young Democrats state and national committees, offers his formula for pulling Nevada out of the recession.

His slogan: "Creating jobs plus quality education plus reducing foreclosures equals a better Nevada."

On the foreclosure front, where Nevada leads the nation, Tramp said he believes homeowners and banks need to renegotiate home loans. And, to attract new jobs, he said, "you need a good education system and a good economic and public safety environment."

"I support Clark County School District being split up into multiple districts," Tramp said. "I don't support vouchers for students to go to private institutions."

He supports allowing parents to choose the schools their children attend rather than having their selection mandated by a geographic zone.

He said he supports making the 8.1 percent sales tax permanent in addition to increasing taxes for the mining industry.

Tramp opposes laying off teachers but could support laying off state employees whose jobs are not necessities.

Pierce, however, said she would "absolutely not" lay off state employees or teachers.

Contact reporter Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308.