It’s a busy Monday morning at the Legislative Building. 8 am found me in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee testifying in favor of AB 165, which is a bill that Speaker Buckley has put forward that would force the Legislature and the Governor to set aside an additional 1% of general fund revenue and place it in our rainy day fund.
As you know, the Chamber has presented a list of long-term spending priorities that, we argue, must be considered before tax increases are discussed. One of those priorities is the implementation of a binding spending cap and required reserve accounts. This bill is a good step in that direction and forces the Executive and Legislative branches to set aside money in the good times in order to stabilize the budget during the downtimes, such as the environment we now find ourselves in. It is vitally important that we not spend every dime we are told that we are going to get and, instead, set money aside for the future.
I also mentioned our support for a separate Education Stabilization Fund, which would ensure that any k-12 money that is left over at the end of a fiscal year should be set aside FOR EDUCATION and not revert back to the general fund.
I am now in the Senate Judiciary Committee room listening to testimony on S.J.R. 2, which is a Nevada Constitutional Amendment that Senator Bill Raggio has put forward. It would implement what is commonly known as the “Missouri Plan,” which would provide for the appointment of judges by the Governor instead of by popular election. The Governor would receive a list from a Selection Committee and would choose from that list. The argument in favor of this proposal is that judges should not have to run around and raise money for their campaigns, that it may present a perception of a conflict of interest.
This bill passed the 2007 Legislature and, if it passes this Session, will go before the voters in 2010.
While the Chamber does not have a position on this issue, it would be a dramatic change to our judicial system. What do you think?
About Our Organization
- The Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce
- Reno/Sparks, Nevada, United States
- The public policy mission of the Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce is to shape an environment conducive to business growth, job creation and a high quality of life throughout our community; to support local businesses; to promote member companies, our region and free enterprise; and to advocate for public policies consistent with the economic well-being of the regional business community and superior quality of life standards.
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