When it comes to Gov. Jim Gibbons’ proposal to use some of the existing room tax revenue currently going to the cash-rich Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and redirect it to critical road construction projects, it’s hard to tell the players without a scorecard.
On the surface, it appears that a rather formidable variety of Nevada entities and individuals oppose the proposal. But there are also a whole lotta conflicts goin’ on.
For example, the Mayor of Las Vegas, Oscar Goodman, came out staunchly opposed to the plan.
The mayor of Nevada’s largest city, that’s something, right? Well, not quite. You see, Goodman isn’t just the mayor of Las Vegas. He’s also a Democrat who might want to run for governor in 2010. He’s also Chairman of the Board for the LVCVA. Not exactly a neutral, unbiased source now, is he?
Then there’s the business community, represented by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, which opposes the Governor’s plan. That’s pretty significant, right? Well, not quite. You see, the President & CEO of the Chamber, Kara Kelley, is also on the LVCVA board. Oops. So much for her objectivity.
How about the gaming industry? It’s said that all the major gaming companies other than the Venetian are opposed to the proposal. So that’s pretty serious opposition, isn’t it. Well, yes…until you consider the fact that gaming executives from the MGM Grand, Wynn Las Vegas, Harrah’s, and Boyd Gaming also sit on the LVCVA board. It would be more of a surprise if they WEREN’T opposed to the plan.
It should also be noted that former Nevada Democrat state party chairman Tom Collins, Democrat City Councilman Larry Brown and Harry Reid’s kid, Democrat Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid also sit on the LVCVA board. As well as the Democrat mayor of Henderson who ran for governor last year.
Sure seems like an awful lot of Democrats opposing a Republican governor’s no-tax-hike proposal, doesn’t it? You don’t think they’re being “partisan,” do you?
The next time you read a story about all the opposition to the proposal to redirect LVCVA revenue to highway construction, consider the source…and the conflicts those sources might or might not have.
Posted on May 24th, 2007 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: Nevada
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