Runaway Government Expansion Not Limited To Washington, D.C.
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
During the 2009 Nevada Legislative Session it became quite evident that the new party in charge of both ends of the Legislative Building were coming to do their will, regardless of process or procedures. Flying the flag of “transparency” the leaders of the legislative process met behind closed doors to iron out the details of what they would bring forward in the form of spending allocations and as part of the deal, what would be included in the record-breaking tax hikes.
In spite of the hard times confronting the private sector outside of the Legislative Building and in direct opposition to those who sought responsible reductions in spending and growth of government, the Party and enough Republican members of the state Senate, passed spending measures and tax increases to accomplish their agenda. Frustrated by the bothersome (although not constraining enough) limits, the legislative leadership of the Party set out to lay the groundwork for a state tax structure that wouldn’t cause difficulties in spending increases and government expansion.
As Geoffrey Lawrence of the Nevada Policy Research Institute points out, those involved in the search for the no-limits tax structure aren’t even going to let the problem of a vetoed bill and a highly questionable/inappropriate extension of new-found authority stand in their way. Going above and beyond to create ever-greater government can and should not be an activity for those who fail to grasp that government accomplishment is not government’s destiny.
If the consent of the governed (within the rules and limitations of the process) is not consistent with the desires of those who govern – screw the rules! “Let them eat cake,” I believe one former member of a ruling class once explained.
It sounded very much like that during the 2009 Nevada Legislative session and might be where we’re headed in 2011 – unless voters decide to make necessary changes and put people in office who are committed to a course of providing opportunity for the private sector as opposed to further growth of government.
During the 2009 Nevada Legislative Session it became quite evident that the new party in charge of both ends of the Legislative Building were coming to do their will, regardless of process or procedures. Flying the flag of “transparency” the leaders of the legislative process met behind closed doors to iron out the details of what they would bring forward in the form of spending allocations and as part of the deal, what would be included in the record-breaking tax hikes.
In spite of the hard times confronting the private sector outside of the Legislative Building and in direct opposition to those who sought responsible reductions in spending and growth of government, the Party and enough Republican members of the state Senate, passed spending measures and tax increases to accomplish their agenda. Frustrated by the bothersome (although not constraining enough) limits, the legislative leadership of the Party set out to lay the groundwork for a state tax structure that wouldn’t cause difficulties in spending increases and government expansion.
As Geoffrey Lawrence of the Nevada Policy Research Institute points out, those involved in the search for the no-limits tax structure aren’t even going to let the problem of a vetoed bill and a highly questionable/inappropriate extension of new-found authority stand in their way. Going above and beyond to create ever-greater government can and should not be an activity for those who fail to grasp that government accomplishment is not government’s destiny.
If the consent of the governed (within the rules and limitations of the process) is not consistent with the desires of those who govern – screw the rules! “Let them eat cake,” I believe one former member of a ruling class once explained.
It sounded very much like that during the 2009 Nevada Legislative session and might be where we’re headed in 2011 – unless voters decide to make necessary changes and put people in office who are committed to a course of providing opportunity for the private sector as opposed to further growth of government.
Posted by Doug Busselman at 11/10/2009 6:07 AM 
Categories: Nevada
Tags: 2010 Election Nevada Tax Study Nevada Legislature
Categories: Nevada
Tags: 2010 Election Nevada Tax Study Nevada Legislature
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