Vol. 4, No. 3, March 2008
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The Teachers Stand Alone
Why do others oppose the teachers’ union ballot initiative?
Now, many different media outlets, advocacy groups and community leaders have voiced their opinion on the subject. It is increasingly apparent that the teachers union stands alone in support of their reckless initiative, with opposition growing everyday.
The Las Vegas Sun editorial board points out the problem with the teachers union initiative is that it singles out one industry rather than spreads the responsibility to all Nevadans.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial board has issues with the initiative because they don’t think a tax increase is needed at all for education funding.
The Reno Gazette-Journal has reported that such an initiative could effectively cripple Reno gaming operators and all Reno business.
Jim Rogers, chancellor of the University System of Nevada and owner of Sunbelt Communications, thinks that non-gaming businesses should contribute more money into the system to pay for education and other state services rather than have gaming exclusively pay.
Walt Ruffles, Clark County School District superintendent, indicates that targeting one industry is a bad solution for funding education or teacher salaries.
Carol Vilardo, Nevada Taxpayers Association president, thinks that creating tax policy through the initiative process is reckless and counterproductive.
Danny Thompson, Nevada AFL-CIO chief, believes targeting gaming alone to fund education is irresponsible and could ultimately lower employee wages and opportunity.
Bill Learner, Deutsche Bank analyst, thinks that it will dramatically affect outside investment in Nevada gaming companies.
The list continues on and on.
In fact, no organization or news outlet has yet to come forward in support of the initiative besides its sponsor, the teachers union. That fact begs the question: Why isn’t anyone else in support of increasing the gaming tax to fund teacher salaries?
Answer: It is a reckless proposal that would constitutionally dedicate the money for pay raises for teacher union members, while ignoring other pressing needs-such as roads. And, it unfairly targets the gaming industry, which already is beginning to experience the impact of a national economic slowdown, to fund the entire tab.
The organizations and people above understand gaming industry has been a friend of education and has consistently supported better schools. The gaming industry currently pays for nearly one-third of the state’s public education. They also recognize relying even more on one industry to fund any state program, including education, is fundamentally unfair because many others benefit from these programs.
If we need to raise more money for teachers or education there are other ways to do it besides targeting and potentially crippling the most important part of the state’s economic engine. Gaming is willing to be part of the solution but should not be only solution.
