Is The Majority Party Big Enough To Take Responsibility?
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
The television commercials tell us to call United States Senator Harry Reid to tell him “Thanks” for all he is doing for us to give us more government and greater levels of government spending (which we will get to pay for in higher taxes). In spite of the posturing to negatively portray the opposition of the Republican party to the ideas that the majority party is pressing to cram through before the election of 2010 – the Democrats are in control of the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate, the Nevada state Senate and the Nevada Assembly. If a Republican didn’t vote for a single bill or support an idea of any kind associated with the agenda of growing government – Democrats have (and have had in Washington, D.C for several years) the votes to determine the outcome however they want the results to be.
Regardless of the manner in which the debates are carried out, the reason for the desire for bi-partisanship is to establish a shield from blame. Incumbents in general are much more interested in taking credit for what they spin as accomplishments than standing up for things that go wrong. It seems that the members of the majority party is especially adept at ducking any semblance of accountability.
If the majority party, which has been in control of all things legislative for the past several years, were not in the driver seats they occupy – what reaction might we expect from this type of news? When Nevada citizens are facing 13.2 percent unemployment rates, and that level doesn’t take into full account the true picture of the situation because of not including those under-employed or who have quit looking – where are those who voted to increase state spending in the 2009 Nevada legislature or pushed the green buttons approving the Billion dollar tax increases (especially the tax increases which collect higher rates on payrolls of employers who provide jobs)?
The best we’ve seen is a weak defense of the employment payroll tax based on the slight reductions that were included for the companies with annual payrolls of less than $250,000. Class warfare which considers $250,000 as a relevant cut-off – those below evaluated as good…those above that level the targets for vilification and extraction. $250,000 in annual payroll doesn’t really reflect a very significant amount of employees…those laid off and not drawing paychecks have just cause to ponder whether government actions at the state and national level aren’t linked the ability of their former employers to continue providing the jobs they used to provide.
The true measure of “protecting working families” is maintaining an economic condition which makes it possible for the private sector to keep family bread-earners working. That wasn’t the priority when the majority party was formulating their spending and tax game plan in the 2009 Nevada Legislature. The emphasis then was how important it was to increase the amount of revenue coming into state coffers in order to provide for bureaucrats and others who cash government checks.
Holding our representatives (state and national) accountable for all the things that they have done for us needs to be a priority in 2010. Even if the majority party is still the majority party in 2011, there needs to be enough minority members (particularly in the Nevada Assembly) to prevent automatic spending and tax increases. Requiring the selection of a new Senate Majority leader in the U.S. Senate (though an un-election) also needs to be a major objective in 2010.
The television commercials tell us to call United States Senator Harry Reid to tell him “Thanks” for all he is doing for us to give us more government and greater levels of government spending (which we will get to pay for in higher taxes). In spite of the posturing to negatively portray the opposition of the Republican party to the ideas that the majority party is pressing to cram through before the election of 2010 – the Democrats are in control of the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate, the Nevada state Senate and the Nevada Assembly. If a Republican didn’t vote for a single bill or support an idea of any kind associated with the agenda of growing government – Democrats have (and have had in Washington, D.C for several years) the votes to determine the outcome however they want the results to be.
Regardless of the manner in which the debates are carried out, the reason for the desire for bi-partisanship is to establish a shield from blame. Incumbents in general are much more interested in taking credit for what they spin as accomplishments than standing up for things that go wrong. It seems that the members of the majority party is especially adept at ducking any semblance of accountability.
If the majority party, which has been in control of all things legislative for the past several years, were not in the driver seats they occupy – what reaction might we expect from this type of news? When Nevada citizens are facing 13.2 percent unemployment rates, and that level doesn’t take into full account the true picture of the situation because of not including those under-employed or who have quit looking – where are those who voted to increase state spending in the 2009 Nevada legislature or pushed the green buttons approving the Billion dollar tax increases (especially the tax increases which collect higher rates on payrolls of employers who provide jobs)?
The best we’ve seen is a weak defense of the employment payroll tax based on the slight reductions that were included for the companies with annual payrolls of less than $250,000. Class warfare which considers $250,000 as a relevant cut-off – those below evaluated as good…those above that level the targets for vilification and extraction. $250,000 in annual payroll doesn’t really reflect a very significant amount of employees…those laid off and not drawing paychecks have just cause to ponder whether government actions at the state and national level aren’t linked the ability of their former employers to continue providing the jobs they used to provide.
The true measure of “protecting working families” is maintaining an economic condition which makes it possible for the private sector to keep family bread-earners working. That wasn’t the priority when the majority party was formulating their spending and tax game plan in the 2009 Nevada Legislature. The emphasis then was how important it was to increase the amount of revenue coming into state coffers in order to provide for bureaucrats and others who cash government checks.
Holding our representatives (state and national) accountable for all the things that they have done for us needs to be a priority in 2010. Even if the majority party is still the majority party in 2011, there needs to be enough minority members (particularly in the Nevada Assembly) to prevent automatic spending and tax increases. Requiring the selection of a new Senate Majority leader in the U.S. Senate (though an un-election) also needs to be a major objective in 2010.
Posted by Doug Busselman at 9/19/2009 2:25 PM 
Categories: 2010 Elections
Tags: Unemployment Nevada Taxes Government Spending
Categories: 2010 Elections
Tags: Unemployment Nevada Taxes Government Spending
Doug:
an excellent assessment as usual. I would like to extend a word of encouragement. As I travel the State in my own election campaign I get to meet with many people, and find that they continue to grow more and more dissatisfied with our current crop of elected officials at both the State and National levels. Simply put, every dissatisfied Nevadan should be heartened they are not alone; but they must become more active and join with their families, friends, and neighbors across the State to actually make a dramatic change in 2010. Doug, please continue on your path as an active observer and voice - Nevadans are listening and you are having an impact.
Best wishes;
Bill Parson
http://www.parsonforsenate2010.com/
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