You Lie… governor Gibbons!

Jim Gibbons is a liar and to back that up he was caught in yet another one about Harry Reid’s car bomb found in July 1981. Gibbons insisted in a Nevada Newsmakers interview on November 2nd, that the device was a shoe box with a phone book and not a bomb.      Reid’s car bomb police report.  Bomb squad log entry.

This is what he said:

“Wait a minute. Wait a minute, Ray. If you read the report, and I hope you read the police report. Did you read it? Did you read it?” he asked Hagar, who replied he did. “It didn’t say car bomb. It said it was a shoe box with a phone book in it. The last time I defined bomb, it wasn’t a shoe box with a phone book in it. If it is, Nextel is a weapon of mass destruction proliferator, because that is not a bomb.” Reference link and “Nevada Newsmakers”, Gibbons interview, November 2, 2009.

Later his spokesperson said Gibbons made a mistake.  Yeah, right!

It wasn’t a mistake, it was an out and out lie and a confrontational one too!  This isn’t about a bomb, but about Gibbons’ lie about a police report he implied he read. It is about his character or lack of one. He just makes stuff up to attack people he doesn’t like.

He is a pathetic excuse for a governor.

Like I Said… A Special Session Is Likely

I just read this article:  ”Special session likely; tax hike not“, LV Sun – November 3, 2009.

This follows my predictions in late July and mid-September that a Special Session was planned. Now I think it is inevitable and will happen early next year. Re-election politics will determine when but whatever the date, it will show Gibbons as being “in charge”. His base will love it.

It is unlikely the Legislature will raise taxes in a Special Session and the Governor will certainly not allow tax increases to be on an agenda he sets. The result will be more cuts to state budgets and programs, including salary reductions by increasing the number of furlough days or even salary cuts which Gibbons favors.

The Special Session will certainly give a big political boost to Gibbons in his re-election bid. He can say he worked hard to keep Nevada running despite all the problems. He can claim that he knows more than anyone about how to run a state in such dire straits and his opponent (Sandoval) does not.  This just might work to get him the nomination.

 

State Agencies Save Money

The amount reverted to the state treasury after closing the books for fiscal year 2009 was $84 million or about$39 million more than projected according to an article in the Nevada Appeal. Some reasons cited for this were: no cost of living or any raises for state employees, lay-offs, eliminating positions or holding them vacant, lower case loads for Child and Family Services, lower utility costs,  a static service load in Health and Human Services, a reduction in teacher signing bonuses and school districts reverting money intended for after school tutoring and reading programs.

What is most telling is the University System’s measly reversion amount and how it spends its funds. The article stated:

“The University System, despite receiving some $900 million in state funding over the 2008-2009 biennium, reverted just $167,793. But the university is in a unique position. Not only do the campuses have state funding, student fee revenue and gifts and grants, they have the authority to decide which pots of money are spent first. State funds are normally expended before other revenues are committed.” Nevada Appeal, October 25, 2009

The reversion was merely a “token” and clearly shows state agencies are genuinely doing their part to help with the budget crisis but “not so much” for the University System.

Dang… will I have to admit the governor was “sort of right” about his approach to the University System?  Yea, I have to admit it.

Except the part where he said Nevada does not really need a college educated population for its economy.  He was probably referring to casinos which pay close to minimum wage for most employees and get to pay the lowest gaming taxes on the planet so they can spend millions on projects outside Nevada.

Oh, yeah, we can’t forget about the lavish donations they make to Nevada politicians supporting them. Now that is what is driving Nevada’s economy!

How about asking every future candidate to promise not to take political donations from casinos either directly or indirectly though PACs, shell companies or straw men (women)?

FTC On the Attack?

The Federal Trade Commission, FTC has changed its rules and as of December 1st all bloggers must disclose any relationship they have with advertisers and others.    Many bloggers make a living blogging and in return, receive money and other things from companies and others. The FTC wants the public to know that.  Seems reasonable but the laws are broadly written any blogger can be under suspicion for a link from their blog to another website if it seems the blogger is somehow benefiting the company they link to.

This is onerous to me and a free speech issue. It would be a great way for individuals and governments to control speech or at least harass bloggers with views they don’t like.

I must say categorically that I do not receive anything from anyone for writing this blog. Not a dime or a coupon.  The only thing I get is the satisfaction that some people read it and occasionally make comments. I suppose even that might be illegal according to the new rules.

The fine is $11,000. A hefty sum for a poor man like me. But don’t let that deter you, keep reading and commenting!

“FTC Eyes Blogs for Conflicts of Interest“, PC World, June 22, 2009

“FTC Targets bloggers, celebrities“, CNN Money, October 6, 2009

NOTICE: I haven’t taken anything from Google, CNN Money or PC World for linking to them. Honest!

State workers stage protest in Las Vegas

Over a hundred state workers staged a protest in front of the Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services facility in Las Vegas.

They were making a point that furloughs and staff cuts have  increased security risks  for patients and staff. They want the governor to do something about it and as usual there was no response from him about this.

I am sure the governor already knows of the security problems at the facility or at least he has been briefed but again, his state management plan is to say “No” and cut services.

Expect to see more problems like this.

Rory Reid’ Policy Handbook

Rory Reid, son of Harry is going to run for governor. He has put together a policy book which might be of interest to you. It is short on details as expected but I guess political visions can be that way.

“ THE VIRTUAL CROSSROADS: Rory Reid’s Vision for the Future of Nevada“

I wonder if Brian Sandoval will also have a policy book. If he creates one, I will mention it like Reid’s.

We all know our current governor has a “Just Say NO”  policy book for Nevada and it hasn’t worked out well. Still, Gibbons says he is going to run though it is unlikely he would make it through the Republican primary with Sandoval running.

Plus Gibbons’ contentious and public divorce will affect his “No” aspirations. As a public official, he must accept his divorce is news and will affect his political future.  He also needs to stop whining about this. Geeze…. no wonder Dawn is divorcing him!

Past Behavior Predicts Future Behavior

Gibbons voted “no” at the Board of Examiners meeting on October 13th. Despite his vote, the Board approved up to a half million dollars to study Nevada’s tax and revenue system which is sorely in need of an overhaul. The study was backed by Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno in the last session but was not funded at the time.

Gibbons said we didn’t need to spend money on a study and Nevada’s tax base Nevada is fine.

It’s not fine. It relies very heavily on sales and gaming taxes.  When a recession hits it is not easy to shrink the state budget because Nevadans continue to demand things like education, welfare and prisons. Nevadans’ already pay relatively little in taxes because our visitors (tourists) pay the lion’s share when they buy things here and lose money in our casinos. It’s about time Nevadans step up and recognize they need to pay for what they want. It is also not a good idea to be so reliant on two funding sources.

There have been several tax studies in the past but no action by the Legislature or the Governor.  I wish a tax study would come with a guarantee of credible political action, otherwise it would be a waste of money. Will the 2011 Legislature have the guts to change things? Unlikely. Past behavior predicts future behavior.

Finally there is the problem of spending sprees when revenue is better than expected. This drives up government costs, grows government at all levels and makes things worse when economic downturns inevitably happen. If the Legislature fixed only that in the next session, it would be a very good fiscal step. A tax study isn’t needed to do that either!

Election Articles

There has been a dearth of additional mess-ups by Gibbons lately, probably because his new staff have some experience in government matters. He also might be listening to them.

Despite this, there have been some interesting articles about the Governor’s race.

“Is Jim Gibbons ‘one and done’? He seems resigned to his fate – Sherman Frederick, LV Review Jr, October 11, 2009

“GOVERNOR’S RACE: Goodman has good numbers in poll – Reid would beat Gibbons, but not Sandoval” – LV Review Jr, October 11, 2009

How Gibbons Could Win Re-Election

I must confess after I read the blog post, “Down the rabbit hole with Idle Speculator“ I was impressed with the logic as to how Gibbons could easily win re-election.   Timing is everything though! Here is part of the blog:

“Appointing Brian Sandoval to Ensign’s Senate seat and thus removing him from the Republican gubernatorial primary would be such a brazen act of self-serving transparency on the part of Jim Gibbons that even the Review-Journal’s publisher would see through it. In other words, it sounds like exactly the sort of thing Gibbons would do. It would also amount to an extremely aggressive snub to both Heller and the Nevada Republican Party, two entities that Gibbons feels have not been sufficiently supportive of the governor during his public descent into dementia — and it is not uncommon for mental and/or emotionally imbalanced people, like Gibbons, to become obsessed with revenge.”  Las Vegas Gleaner, October 9, 2009

Definitely worth some time reading.

Raggio Says No Need for Special Session… THIS Year

Senator Bill Raggio says he doesn’t see a need for a Special Session this year even if revenues are lower than expected.

I am betting he will see a need next year or at least Gibbons will! The decision will be based on campaign politics and result in another fiscal assault on state employees.

“Raggio Denounces Talk of Special Session” – Anjeanette Damon, Reno Gaz. Jr. October 7, 2009