The Las Vegas Sun today reported that “President Obama’s stimulus plan is going to require Nevada to come up with millions of dollars to qualify for the federal funds in many programs.” [Las Vegas Sun] Heck, if Nevada had “millions of dollars” it might not need the stimulus plan. But that Nevada has to have millions before it can get stimulated is an interesting turn of events.
Nevada’s university system would have to receive an additional $276 million from the state to qualify for money from the federal education funds. And money cut from a number of social programs to keep the budget balanced would have to be restored before the state would be eligible for the federal bailout.
“This is going to be quite a Herculean task,” Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said in a statement. “Legislators would need to replace much of the governor’s proposed budget cuts in order to qualify for millions in federal funds.”
That’s why you get the big bucks Barbara, to figure stuff like this out. Just ignore Governor Gibbons and do what you have to do.
Get all the worry warts calmed down. Assemblyman Morse Arberry, D-Las Vegas, said he was worried that out-of-state contractors would win the bid and bring their employees with them. He wanted to see Nevada workers hired on these projects. Why not just construct the bidding process with a provision that any out of state contractors must give preference to Nevada workers in their hiring process? When you’re drowning grab any stick you can get ahold of to remain afloat.
Good luck, we’re counting on you.
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From what I can gather, when the dust settles on this pea-and-shell game, all that NevaDUH will get is huge tax breaks for the MGM Mirage and Wynn Resorts.
As usual…..