The Republican Wall

June 9, 2003

The Nevada legislature was to conclude its business on June 2nd but did not because they could not agree on a tax package to fund all the things they wanted, especially education programs and enhancements.

It is not as if they have had no time or were unaware of the budget problems. They knew, everyone knew. There was little serious effort in the first half of the 120 day legislative session and now there is a budget crisis created by The Republican Wall.

The Wall is a small group of legislators that is tying up a tax package  to fund education programs and enhancements they and their colleagues approved a week or so ago. They are using the 2/3rds super majority requirement to stop the tax proposal, claiming it is for fiscal responsibility.

Nonsense and spin.

The Wall wants to cut educational funding but they don't have the guts to come right out an say that is what they want. They believe they can do it by precipitating a fiscal crisis and blaming educational cuts and this crisis on the governor.

Cowards one and all.

The Wall is angry at the governor for dismissing them as irrelevant if his tax proposals were not approved. There are also peeved because the governor will not allow them to re-open the budget after they approved it.  So, to make the governor look bad, they have premeditatedly placed the state on a precarious budget brink and don't care and won't compromise.

This is politics at its worse. And it doesn't get any better.

While The Republican Wall brags about its fiscal irresponsibility, it costs Nevada taxpayers about $50,000 each day in Special Session costs. This has been going on since June 3rd.

They believe this will look good on their political resumes at the next election cycle. Don't bet on it.

Legislators in a legislative session, must set aside their political allegiances and aspirations and represent all Nevadans. This is what is right and is what Nevadans expect.

At the next election, voters will remember and tear down The Republican Wall by firing the incumbents who built it.