Opinion Says Two-Thirds Vote Not Needed to Extend Taxes
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Volume 21, Issue 13 May 22-28, 2019 lasvegastribune.com “I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” — Voltaire Opinion says two-thirds vote NOT EDITED NOT not needed to extend taxes By Thomas Mitchell law to be reduced does not require ed to taxes, fees, assessments and Never tell the boss no. a two-thirds vote of all lawmakers, rates, or changes in the computation This past week the Legislative just a simple majority. bases for taxes, fees, assessments Counsel Bureau, the Legislature’s In the 21-member Senate, Dem- and rates.” attorneys, told Democratic Gov. ocrats are one shy of the 14 votes The governor pledged in his Steve Sisolak and the Democratic required to meet the two-thirds State of the State speech at the majorities in both the state Senate threshold established by a consti- start of the legislative session that and Assembly what they wanted to tutional amendment approved by his $8.9 billion general fund bud- hear: Extending taxes scheduled by voters in 1994 and 1996, which get contained no new taxes, but it states “an affirmative vote of not does include a proposal to keep at fewer than two-thirds of the mem- the current rates two taxes that are My Point bers elected to each House is scheduled to be reduced in June. necessary to pass a bill or joint The modified business tax resolution which creates, generates, passed in 2015 by a two-thirds vote of View or increases any public revenue in of lawmakers contained specific By Rolando Larraz any form, including but not limit- (See Raising Taxes, Page 4) The more talk there is about Las Vegas the more we wonder whatev- er happened to the best city of them all: there’s marijuana all over, the stadium is the only thing in Gov- Robbing Peter to pay Paul ernor Sisolak’s mind even though By Thomas Mitchell modest rollback passed in 2015 there is enough parking for only ten On facing pages of the morning that reduced the wages that must percent of the required spaces need- newspaper were two highly related be paid on public school and col- ed; the school district crying for the stories. lege construction to 90 percent of money that was promised to them On 2B, the Clark County Schools the prevailing wage and raised the during the last election campaign, Superintendent Jesus Jara bemoans threshold for covered projects from and of course there is the wonder budget cuts that will reduce efforts $100,000 to $250,000. of the traffic jam that will be part to increase school safety. The prevailing wage law re- of the daily routine for the locals. On 3B, the state Senate passes quires that workers on public con- Take for example those who a bill that will increase the cost to struction jobs be paid no less than live on the west side of the city. Of taxpayers of school construction the “prevailing” wage in the area course, there is no concern about projects. The governor is expected where the work is being done. The these people because the elected to sign the bill. Every Republican wage rate is set by the state Labor officials only think and worry about in the Assembly and state Senate Commissioner based on a survey of the Strip, the marijuana stores and voted against it. contractors. The survey is so time the stadium, but those who live on Assembly Bill 136 reverses a (See School Financing, Page 5) the west side also work in down- town and on the Strip and have to suffer the consequences of the less- than-brilliant minds that control the Lt. Colonel Waddy: Nearly traffic lights. Coming from Valley View on Oakey Blvd., the light turns red on Forgotten, Newly Honored Martin Luther King Jr. for a very long time, but not as long as on Written by Parker Philpot country and our community. presentation. The public is invited. Wyoming (Oakey) and Industrial Special to the Tribune A military woman is finally She served in WWII, Korea and Road where the red light lasts for- Editor’s Note: In honor of Mili- getting a proper service commem- retired from full-time duty in 1952 ever, while the light is green to on tary Awareness Month and Memo- orating her distinctive service and and then served as a member of the Commerce until it turns green on rial Day this is the third installment accomplishments. LTC Harriet Army Reserves until 1969, accord- Industrial Road and then turns red in a series of articles featuring Hardin West Waddy died in Las ing to an obituary from Eugene, of Commerce and the same happens local veterans, spotlighting military Vegas on Feb 21, 1999 and was Oregon, where she relocated to in on Main Street. women and “hidden history.” The interred in Boulder City at the the early 1970s. Whoever is in charge of the Las Vegas Tribune honors military Southern Nevada Veterans Memo- During her WWII-era service, synchronizing of these lights may women for their courage, dedica- rial Cemetery on Feb 26 without she was awarded the Women’s have diarrhea in the brains, but of tion and active role in helping to any recognition. Twenty years later, Army Corps Service Medal. Wad- course the only things the elected shape the U.S. military positively veterans and volunteer supporters dy, then — Harriet West, was officials are concerned about are in myriad ways before, during and are giving LTC Waddy the honors among the first 39 Black women to the Strip, the casinos, the marijuana after WWII. There are still many she deserved. graduate in the army’s first Officer stores and lying to the constituents stories to be uncovered about lo- On May 24, 2019, a full Mili- Candidate School class on August without getting caught. We wonder cal resident veterans, as well as tary Burial Service and graveside 29, 1942 at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. when was the last time the flam- those where a posthumous honor ceremony will be held at 10:40 Waddy was the first and one of boyant Nevada governor drove by is overdue. Thank you, to active Lieutenant Colonel a.m. at the cemetery, complete only two Black WACs promoted Oakey Boulevard between Martin duty members of the military and Harriet M. Hardin West Waddy with a chapel service, a rifle salute to the rank of Major during WWII. Luther King Jr. and Las Vegas to veterans for contributions to our (June 20, 1904 – Feb 21, 1999) and the folding of the flag and its (See LTC Waddy, Page 3) Boulevard. Right there at the corner of Oakey (Wyoming) and Main Street AG Barr says he is working to there is an accident waiting to happen because the right lane is supposed to be a right turn only, but protect presidency, not Trump two out of every three cars choose to go straight because the right lane By Justin Wise “I felt the rules were being the position as attorney general leadership and direction,” Barr said, is the one used to turn right and The Hill changed to hurt Trump, and I again, Barr told the newspaper. arguing “if you destroy the presi- go straight on Oakey (Wyoming) Attorney General William Barr thought it was damaging for the He previously served in the role dency and make it an errand boy for toward Commerce. said in a new interview he views presidency over the long haul,” in President George H.W. Bush’s Congress, we’re going to be a much Gass Street was supposed to be his role at the Justice Department Barr told The Wall Street Journal administration. weaker and more divided nation.” one way, West to East, but later as one where he can take action in an interview published Monday. “At every grave juncture the The comments from Barr come someone’s mind was changed and to protect his long-held belief in That belief, as well as a push presidency has done what it is as he faces mounting scrutiny from (See Protecting Presidency, Page 5) it was to be one way from East to executive power. from friends, led him to take on supposed to do, which is to provide West. Later, it ended up being a two-way street again like it used to be before that city beautification Trump, China and trade: Who blinks first? project that Councilman Coffin By Jordan Fabian White House say he is prepared to loves so much so that the downtown and Brett Samuels hold out for the best possible deal. homeless can defecate in more The Hill “President Trump is not plan- comfort. Neither President Trump nor ning on backing down on this issue There are two beautiful build- Chinese President Xi Jinping is until he gets a result that addresses ings in the corner of 10th Street showing any sign of caving in the the long-standing, unfair trade and Gass that have been empty for escalating trade dispute between the practices the Chinese are engaging the last three years. No one wants world’s two most important econ- in,” said Clete Willems, a former to buy or rent them because the omies, portending a standoff that top White House trade negotiator homeless people have taken over could last months or even years. who recently left his post. “Presi- these two properties; they even Buoyed by the strong U.S. dent Trump is going to see this one have picnics in the front yard of economy, Trump is feeling little through until the end.” one of these two buildings and the pressure to strike a quick deal with Many trade experts agree that (See My Point of View, Page 2) Beijing, and people close to the (See Trump China Trade, Page 6) Page 2 / LAS VEGAS TRIBUNE / May 22-28, 2019 Trump: Foreign countries want Biden in office so they can continue ‘ripping off’ the United States By Brett Samuels Trump has been fixated on Biden recent weeks.