Fiore continues to fricassee governor’s plan

I respect my doormat, but I still wipe my feet on it.

That’s the impression I was left with Thursday morning after listening to firebrand conservative Republican Assemblywoman Michele Fiore discuss Gov. Brian Sandoval’s legislative agenda during an interview with Dave Becker on KNPR-FM, 88.9’s “State of Nevada.”

Not only is Fiore extremely unimpressed with Sandoval’s plan to raise business license fees by several hundred million in support of Nevada’s foundering public schools, but she continues to question his Republican credentials in the run-up to the 2015 session of the Legislature.

Her daily roasting only appears to be growing in intensity.

“Our state cannot afford $1.2 billion in taxes that was voted down,” Fiore said. “This isn’t something that’s pie in the sky. This tax was voted down by 80 percent of the constituents who said no on a gross receipts margins tax. This tax, this $1.2 billion, $440 million of it is basically a watered down gross receipts margins tax.

“The voters spoke loud and clear. So what message are we sending to the voters? ‘Hey guys, you took the time out, you went and voted, you voted this down on the ballot, but we’re not going to pay attention to you today. And we’re just going to do what you don’t want us to do.’ How well do you think that’s going to play in the next election?”

Fiore, meanwhile, called for slashes to the public education budget teacher education incentives and classroom-size reduction.

But, really, she thinks a great deal of Sandoval.

“The respect level for our governor has always been high and will continue to always be high, but just because we disagree on policy doesn’t mean there’s any lack of respect,” Fiore said after blasting his policies and Republican bona fides. “Brian Sandoval is our governor. He’s an incredible individual.”

CITY RACES: Opponents of a soccer stadium partially funded with city dollars continue to hustle to recruit candidates to run against council members who voted in favor of the proposal.

Meanwhile, I see Rep. Dina Titus is scheduled today at City Hall to pay the filing fee in support of her friend Ward 3 Councilman Bob Coffin’s re-election campaign. This is truly big news.

Hey, it’s not often you spot a member of the City Council at City Hall on a Friday.

CRAZY VEGAS: Las Vegas is an endlessly entertaining confluence of people and events. At times it’s a real scream.

Take the February events schedule at the South Point, for example. There is The Vegas Shoot, an upscale archery tournament; the LVCHA Weekend Winter Championship Cutting Horse event, which features some of the smartest animals you’ll ever see; the Rocky Mountain Gun Show, where a world of weaponry will be displayed, and the Aloha International Spirit Championship cheer and dance competition, which features human pyramids and happy faces.

In other words, it’s pretty much arrow-shooting, gun-toting cheerleaders on horseback. For the record, I have been informed participants won’t be competing at the same time.

Although, come to think of it, it sounds like a production show you might see only in crazy Vegas.

ON THE BOULEVARD: Interesting to learn that three judges recused themselves earlier this week from hearing arguments in the push to get anti-stadium language on the city’s June ballot. … The NCAA finally honored Jerry Tarkanian, sort of. It lauded the statue of the basketball coach at the Thomas &Mack Center.

BOULEVARD II: Former Raiders quarterback David Humm likes the Seahawks and over in the Super Bowl. ... Nothing says a push for a professional sports team in Las Vegas is legitimate like a season ticket drive that starts even before the franchise has been awarded. In this case, the sport in question is hockey. ... I see UFC pug Nick Diaz is back in the headlines for doing something dumb. You’d think at some point he’d appreciate all the work people in his corner have done to keep him eligible to fight for a living.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? Email comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. Follow him on Twitter @jlnevadasmith.