Every three or four months, legislators address Nevada’s chronic budget shortfall by making more and more cuts. Do we want to keep cutting into to the next biennium? We’re tired of band-aid solutions to our hemorrhaging budget crisis!

Event Details
Monday, December 8 (First day of Special Session)
12 noon - Capitol Building
12:30 - Legislature Building

Why?

• To ask Governor Gibbons if he has a plan to deal with cutting 34% of Nevada’s budget, and to tell him “No New Taxes” is a disaster, NOT a plan.
• To deliver "Nevada Budget Planning and Policy Toolkits” (packages of band-aids) to the Governor and Legislators.
• To demand the Governor and the Legislature invest in Nevada’s working families to bolster the state’s economy, an economy which depends on well-educated Nevadans, safe communities, a sound transportation infrastructure and affordable health care and housing.

With the economy tanking, now is not the time to cut spending. Economists left, right and center support increased government spending to prime the economy. Nevada is going in exactly the opposite direction, cutting spending more and more, making Nevada's economic slowdown even worse.

Nevada’s revenue crisis will plunge the state into deeper economic ruin unless courageous and comprehensive measures are taken immediately. The problem is not now, nor has it ever been, primarily about spending. If you lose your job and can’t pay the bills, you don’t have a spending problem. You have an income problem. Similarly, Nevada state government has an income problem that can no longer withstand the vicissitudes of boom and bust that result in worsening education for our kids and further cuts to an already shredded safety net.

Bring signs and band aids!

For more information, call PLAN—775 348 7557 or 882 3440

RALLY TALKING POINTS:
DECEMBER 8TH 12:00 NOON

Nevada’s Tax system is broken, fundamentally unfair, balancing the state budget on the backs of those who can least afford it while shielding those who can afford to pay.

Cuts of $1.5 billion will be made in this biennium through June 2009 and estimates of 30% – 34% are going to be cut from the next biennium (2010-2011).

Programs severely slashed could include:

• Public Education
• Higher Education
• State Government Staffing
• Early Intervention Services
• Nevada Check-up
• Medicaid
• Any waivers with the federal government
• Autism
• Personal Care Services for elderly and disabled
• Mental Health programs
• Nevada 2-1-1
• Independent Living Assistance
• Traumatic Brain Injury Services
• State Parks
• Rural Hospitals

Nevada needs to raise money now for the short term devastation to our state programs. It also needs to address a long term solution to the boom and bust funding for education and social services. The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada will be coming out with a comprehensive plan in January.

Here are some proposals for quick solutions.

1. Implement the 3% room tax in the two major counties to help fund education.
2. Change policy on taxing comp-ed meals.
3. Do not take tobacco funds to fill in the holes. No securitization.
4. Raise fees in every department for services provided.
5. Maximize all federal matching programs.