Rediscovering the Constitution: A funny thing happened on the way to health care reform: Some folks have rediscovered the Constitution. Indeed, when a reporter asked Nancy Pelosi this week if her health care bill was constitutional, all she could muster in response was, “Are you serious?”
But serious people are now addressing that core question on health care reforms…and even other issues. Indeed, in two recent blog posts (here and here), Nevada’s liberal-in-chief Hugh Jackson invokes constitutional arguments on the health care issue and the gun rights issue.
I think Hugh’s arguments are wrong, but at least we’re now debating whether legislation is constitutional in addition to debating whether it’s “needed.” Barry Goldwater would be pleased.
The New Anointed One: Jon Ralston reports an “anointment in progress,” noting that a high-powered fundraiser for GOP gubernatorial candidate Brian Sandoval took place in Reno on Tuesday featuring ex-Gov. Kenny Guinn, state Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio, state Sen. Randolph Townsend, uber-business donors Norm Dianda, Blake Smith, Louie Damonte and Perry DiLoreto, as well as powerhouse lobbyists Mike Alonso, Pete Ernaut and Greg Ferraro.
Hey, wait a minute. Didn’t Ferraro write the inaugural address for Sandoval’s primary opponent, Gov. Jim Gibbons? I guess lobbyists such as Ferraro go where the money is, not where their principles are. Or do they even have principles? Another discussion for another day.
Budget Black-and-Blues: According to a Las Vegas Sun story yesterday, budget cutters need to cut more due to an expected $129 million budget deficit – and the average salary for Clark County government workers is $90,000.
Yikes! If the AVERAGE salary for local government employees is $90,000….I think we’ve found the problem.
Meanwhile, Nevada’s government is reportedly staring at a $2 billion budget hole next biennium, to which Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert (R-Reno) told the Las Vegas Review-Journal this week: “Last session we tried to contain the size of government.”
No she di’-in’t.
Gansert worked closely and secretly with Democrat leaders this last legislative session to come up with a general fund budget which was $800 million more than Gov. Jim Gibbons proposed! How does voting to increase the budget by $800 million in the middle of a recession equate to containing the size of government?
Heidi Gansert: Nice lady; lousy fiscal conservative. Republicans need a new leader. This one is leading them right off a cliff.
Stop, Thief! Army Military Police reservist and 3rd District congressional candidate Rob Lauer got called into civilian active duty late Wednesday night when he witnessed a guy trying to shoplift a case of beer from a Henderson-area Von’s with two clerks in hot pursuit. Lauer reportedly cut off the guy’s escape route with his car before apprehending the miscreant and holding him until the cops arrived.
Maybe Rob should run for sheriff instead?
