I assume most have checked the Nevada state election results by now, so here are some random thoughts:
– With 28 seats in the Assembly, a majority in the Senate, and just a couple of Republican votes the Dems can now override a veto by Governor Jim Gibbons. He is officially a lame duck. Or, in light of the constant trouble and controversy surrounding him, maybe just plain lame.
– In light of the above, expect a tax hike in Nevada as legislators contemplate a budget shortfall of (at least) $250 million.
– My condolences to Senator Heck (R) who lost to Breeden by 801 votes. But, as Chuck Muth pointed out during this morning’s panel discussion on KNPR, Heck’s campaign ignored his advice to court the Libertarian active voting block (which by all counts was larger by far than Heck’s loss margin). A few calls and mailers to Libertarian types and who knows what could have been?
– Incumbent Senator Bob Beers (R) was outspent and outslimed by a Democratic machine that did not hesitate to twist, lie and libel. And somehow it didn’t seem to matter to voters that his opponent, Allison Copening, ducked most debate and interview opportunities throughout the campaign.
– I was dissatisfied with both Beers’ and Copening’s pre-election responses to my “what will you cut, or what taxes will you raise, specifically” question in re: to Nevada’s budget shortfall. Beers said we’d have to do one or the other (duh!) and Copening said she’d figure it out when she got to Carson City. These answers are not good enough. Voters have the right to know what their candidates plan to do before they cast their ballots.
– Congrats to Chad Christensen who is “my” Assemblyman. A lot of people thought he was done, including Jon Ralston.
– Memo to Senator Raggio: Please do what you can to convince your fellow senators to cut the budget and raise taxes as little as possible.
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