As written here previously, I’ve criticized Gov. Jim Gibbons’ version of the “Grace Commission” - the so-called SAGE Commission - for apparently only looking at ways to make government more efficient rather than looking for ways to chop it down to size. And every time I say we should “cut” government I hear voices in my left ear shrieking that there’s no place to cut other than in critical services to children (of course), the poor, the elderly and the infirm.
For example, another round of expected budget cuts was announced this week - budget cuts which, for the first time, might actually be cuts and not reductions in last year’s increase - thanks to the continued decline in tax revenues due to the faltering economy. In response, Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley (D-Teachers Union) told the Associated Press that if such cuts were enacted, “then medication clinics for the mentally ill would close. School districts would probably have to reduce teacher pay and increase class sizes or eliminate arts or sports.”
Funny.
Why would we have to close medication clinics for the mentally ill rather than close, say, the Minority Consumer Affairs operation over at the Department of Business and Industry? For that matter, why not just shut down the entire Consumer Affairs Division itself completely? After all, it sure didn’t do much for consumers who were talked into adjustable-rate mortgages they couldn’t afford, or consumers who patronized the Endoscopy Center in Las Vegas.
And why would we have to reduce teacher pay before first eliminating the useless Civil Rights Commission? An why do we have to increase class sizes before we reduce the Cultural Affairs Department? And why would we eliminate art classes for children in public schools before eliminating the Nevada Arts Council?
But more importantly…
Why isn’t the governor’s office or the SAGE Commission making these arguments in the court of public opinion instead of me doing their jobs for them?
Posted on May 17th, 2008 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: Nevada
Very good observations!