Nevada’s Addiction To More And More Government Spending
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
Watching the Nevada Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee again yesterday and listening to the throng of people who believe to their core that the world will end if there is any reduction in the amount of money which goes to their specific need – the notion that this isn’t going to be easy kept running through my mind. In spite of what the leaders of one party want us to believe in regard to Nevada not being a large an intrusive government…it is very clear that the addiction to government’s handouts are significant and withdraw doesn’t appear to be a choice that will be tolerated. It is going to be about getting the money and those who have to be doing the giving are not going to stand much of a chance.
Going through this process of finding a way to plug the $900 Million hole where spending allocations are greater than the projections for tax revenue is only the first step. In all likelihood the gap will probably be about $3 Billion between what is considered to be required for spending and what would be considered likely for tax income through current sources (at current rates).
Looking for leadership from elected officials and expecting any type of fiscal discipline doesn’t appear to be a probable result. As long as they keep getting re-elected spending us into greater and greater degrees of dependency – we’re going to keep seeing taxpayers gouged for more and more to feed the frenzy. Considerations of building alternative solutions to provide services from non-governmental sources (or self responsibility) will not originate with politicians or from those with their hands out wanting to cash bigger and bigger government checks. Their solution always involves somebody else picking up the tab and being vilified for not being quicker about paying the more which is required.
Last night I also watched the new Nevada Teacher’s Union television commercial selling the mantra of how the big and greedy aren’t paying their fair share so our children can get the education they should receive. Needless to say I was more convinced by watching the display about who the greedy really are and first-hand experience with the current educational system provide good insights on where the shortcomings are for what we’re not getting.
Unless the November election provides a large enough voter rejection for the current course the only possible outcome will be more of the same and to a much greater degree. There are no limits to what we can expect government spending to be required and probably even after they have spent all the private sector can produce, they will still be looking for more.
Watching the Nevada Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee again yesterday and listening to the throng of people who believe to their core that the world will end if there is any reduction in the amount of money which goes to their specific need – the notion that this isn’t going to be easy kept running through my mind. In spite of what the leaders of one party want us to believe in regard to Nevada not being a large an intrusive government…it is very clear that the addiction to government’s handouts are significant and withdraw doesn’t appear to be a choice that will be tolerated. It is going to be about getting the money and those who have to be doing the giving are not going to stand much of a chance.
Going through this process of finding a way to plug the $900 Million hole where spending allocations are greater than the projections for tax revenue is only the first step. In all likelihood the gap will probably be about $3 Billion between what is considered to be required for spending and what would be considered likely for tax income through current sources (at current rates).
Looking for leadership from elected officials and expecting any type of fiscal discipline doesn’t appear to be a probable result. As long as they keep getting re-elected spending us into greater and greater degrees of dependency – we’re going to keep seeing taxpayers gouged for more and more to feed the frenzy. Considerations of building alternative solutions to provide services from non-governmental sources (or self responsibility) will not originate with politicians or from those with their hands out wanting to cash bigger and bigger government checks. Their solution always involves somebody else picking up the tab and being vilified for not being quicker about paying the more which is required.
Last night I also watched the new Nevada Teacher’s Union television commercial selling the mantra of how the big and greedy aren’t paying their fair share so our children can get the education they should receive. Needless to say I was more convinced by watching the display about who the greedy really are and first-hand experience with the current educational system provide good insights on where the shortcomings are for what we’re not getting.
Unless the November election provides a large enough voter rejection for the current course the only possible outcome will be more of the same and to a much greater degree. There are no limits to what we can expect government spending to be required and probably even after they have spent all the private sector can produce, they will still be looking for more.
Posted by Doug Busselman at 2/19/2010 5:36 AM 
Categories: Nevada State Spending
Tags: Nevada Legislative Special Session Nevada Budget State Spending Taxes
Categories: Nevada State Spending
Tags: Nevada Legislative Special Session Nevada Budget State Spending Taxes
Well, it's mostly the dem's asking for the Fed's money. That's not surprising, but it's also not like the Fed's owe's NV. for anything, like unfunded mandates in education and healthcare, closing down Yucca, Reid killing the power plant in Ely and other Democrat's tricks.
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