Legislative Failure Helped by Republican Obstructionists

July 1, 2003

Well, it happened. The Legislature has failed to finalize a budget for programs it approved. The main part of the state's budget is education and that part is not funded as of July 1, 2003 because it requires new taxes. A bad situation for school districts and even worse for citizens. It also means the state Supreme Court must now get involved since the Attorney General filed paperwork asking for their intervention right after midnight on July 1st.

State operations will not stop because those parts are funded and agencies are authorized to collect and spend whatever fees and taxes as before. The main issue is the school budget which is short funds for programs the legislature approved.  New taxes are needed to fund those programs, hence the super-majority requirement comes into play.

At the beginning of the session every legislator knew what the issues were and what was a needed. They refused to meet the budgetary challenges and find a way to pay for everything they wanted. The blame goes to every legislator this session. They failed individually and collectively to follow the state constitution which requires a balanced budget and funding for schools.

The blame especially goes to a group of assembly republicans who have stopped the legislative process by using the super majority requirement for raising new taxes. What annoys even more it that they have bragged about their obstructionist activities, stating they are doing it for fiscal responsibility when it is really to get back at the Governor and others they don't agree with.

They are obstinate and their attitude is, "My Way or the Highway" Their legislative impasse was planned months ago. They had no intention to compromise or  resolve the situation.

The leader of the Republican Obstructionists is Lyn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville who keeps saying it is everyone else's fault.  He claims he hates a business tax but thinks a payroll tax on nearly every working Nevadan is fine. Sounds very republican and not surprising.

Hettrick held a press conference on June 30th to deflect political and public heat. He blamed others and restated the same old thing.

Hettrick  again said he had a list of compromises and potential budget cuts but refused to produce it and has refuse to do so every time when asked for it.  He has no list because he has no solutions or compromises to offer. It was never his intent to resolve the budget crisis but to create one.

Hettrick stopped the legislative process to make a name for himself. His actions have been selfish, shameful, political and vindictive.

The Republican Obstructionists are:

Lyn Hettrick - R  Gardnerville    Douglas, Carson City (Part), Washoe (Part), No. 39

Bob Beers - R  Las Vegas   Clark, No. 4
Walter Andonov - R-Henderson   Clark, No. 21
Sharron Angle - R    Washoe, No.26
David Brown - R Henderson   Clark, No. 22
John Carpenter - R Elko   Elko, Humboldt (Part), No. 33
Chad Christensen - R   Las Vegas Clark, No.13
Pete Goicoechea - R   Eureka  No. 35
Tom Grady - Yerington Carson City (Part), Churchill (Part), Lyon, Storey, No. 38
Don Gustovson - R  Sun Valley   Washoe No. 30
Ron Knecht - Carson City    Carson City (Part), Washoe (Part), No. 40
Garn Mabey - R Las Vegas   Clark, No. 2
Valerie Weber - R Las Vegas   Clark, No. 5
John Marvel - R Battle Mountain  Humboldt (Part), Lander (Part), Washoe (Part), No. 32
Rod Sherer - R Pahrump   Churchill (Part), Esmeralda, Lincoln, Mineral, Nye, No. 36

Let's remember each when they are up for re-election.  They should be easy to spot next year since they will be the ones bragging about what they did in 2003.

Pitiful.

Oh yeah... the following obstructionist legislators were playing baseball in May instead of working on a tax plan: Walter Andonov, Chad Christensen, Ron Knecht, and Garn Mabey. 

Poor work ethic. It also supports the premise they had no intention of solving the budget crisis. Their intention was to create one.