Reid delivered for McCarran

When much of the political class was buzzing over his awkward racial remark, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., was having a look at how his work in Washington translates into action on the ground.

Reid on Tuesday toured the construction project that is Terminal 3 at McCarran International Airport.

The $2.4 billion project saved more than $70 million in large part to a provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also called the stimulus law, that Reid as Senate majority leader helped to pass.

“It’s fitting that Sen. Reid tour this project given the role he’s played in its ongoing development,” said Rosemary Vassiliadis, deputy director of the Clark County Department of Aviation. “His efforts to include Alternative Minimum Tax relief in last year’s stimulus package helped keep this project on track, and will ultimately save our department millions of dollars in debt service costs in the years to come.”

Vassiliadis said AMT relief is projected to save the department $72.4 million in reduced debt service costs over the 30-year life of the applicable bonds issued to pay for the project. Vassiliadis is the spouse of longtime Reid supporter Billy Vassiliadis.