Word on the street is that the cost-of-living hike for government workers will take effect on July 1st as planned. You’d think that would mean there’s no need for the Legislature to convene in a special session tomorrow, since requisite budget cuts to close the revenue gap could be made later today by the Interim Finance Committee.
Unfortunately, word on the street also says the special session will commence tomorrow as planned for the sole purpose of getting legislative approval to drain the Rainy Day Fund instead of cutting non-essential government programs and laying off non-essential and unproductive government workers. This is the equivalent of breaking open the piggy bank to buy a box of candy.
Folks, this is NOT a rainy day. Cloudy, yes. But not rainy.
The governor and the Legislature should definitely NOT drain the Rainy Day Fund. That reserve account should be reserved for natural disasters - floods, fires and earthquakes, all of which Nevada has experienced recently - or something like another terrorist attack. The need for a little belt-tightening does NOT make a crisis. All draining the Rainy Day Fund will do is make the state even more vulnerable if something dire DOES develop.
Will there be any fiscal conservatives in the Legislature who will oppose this unwise and unnecessary move at the upcoming unwise and wholly unnecessary special session? Stay tuned, Batfans.
Posted on June 26th, 2008 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: Nevada
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