No more playing Santa Claus in Carson City

I'd like to think that Nevada legislators would intuitively know that this bad economy requires a reduction in state spending. I'd also like to think that the Arizona Cardinals will win the Super Bowl next year.

So, let's go over the current reality again, shall we?

This is a consumer driven recession and this time Nevada is feeling the full force of it. It may be the worst downturn we've seen in 30 years. With the price of oil driving prices up through all sectors of the economy (from gasoline, to food, to discretionary spending), the state will feel the hit on many levels, from visitor spending to charitable giving. This comes on top of the severe real estate market decline which soon will have a bad effect on the existing tax base.

Simply put, Nevada is just not going to be able to afford the obligatory government creep that takes place very two years in Carson City. Government at all levels -- even for the parts of government we hold especially dear such as roads, public safety and education -- will need to do more for less.

Most legislators hate that because with just a few notable exceptions, these citizen legislators drone on in their daily lives until once very two years they can skip to Carson City and, as if money were the only factor in government efficacy, give away bags of taxpayer money.

But this next session legislators won't have money to give away. Instead of expanding government, they should be looking for ways of doing more with less. Those legislators who don't will be just like this kid who sticks his finger in the mouth of his baby brother, Charlie, once too often. It's gonna hurt.