As voters, we need to start thinking ahead

Jim Bacon, North Las Vegas

Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011 | 2:04 a.m.

As we begin another legislative session, many serious problems must be dealt with, but it is not realistic to expect much to be done to solve them. I expect to see those problems to be kicked down the road yet again.

This is partly due to the fact that the Nevada Constitution protects some groups from taxation and prohibits the Legislature from adopting some solutions such as a state lottery.

I appreciate and am thankful for the fact that our constitution is not easy to change. Just look at the hundreds of amendments to California’s constitution; it is easy to see our way is better. That said, because we cannot make changes lightly, we must not only look at our situation now but also how it will be four years from now. That is how long it takes to make a change if initiated by voters.

Our Legislature has failed to look ahead for several years and initiate amendments that would remove the restrictions that hobble us today. If they were to do so, we could see amendments take effect in less than three years (assuming a special election were to be held to vote on any amendments the Legislature brings to us).

Voters need to look forward to 2014 and start the petition drives as soon as the law allows in order to make the changes we need. We cannot depend on the Legislature to do this for us this session.