New decade begins with optimism

By Lisa Mascaro

Monday, Jan. 4, 2010 | 9:44 a.m.

WASHINGTON — Greetings, Early Liners.

That New Year optimism is palpable, with much anticipation about the new decade being better than the lost one left behind – despite the nagging suspicion that the ailing economy, renewed terror threats and the hyper-partisanship political climate will not simply improve with the turning of the 2009 calendar page.

Washington is awakening to the new decade, as the president returns to the White House today from his holiday in Hawaii but Congress does not resume until next week (the House) and mid-January (the Senate).

Behind the scenes, however, work is underway on the top agenda items for early 2010 : A new jobs package, the Wall Street overhaul and the completion of the long health care debate.

In Nevada, Sun colleague David McGrath-Schwartz and Joe Schoenmann report that the governor continues considering cuts and layoffs with the prospect of a special session to handle the state’s looming budget deficit, while Clark County commissioners are about to stare down the unions in tough contract battles.

As the New Year begins, it is helpful to review what just happened this past decade, lest we commit that unmistakable act of insanity: doing the same thing over and over, even when it is no longer working, reports colleague J. Patrick Coolican.

Several political events on tap this week, including honors this morning for Democratic Rep. Dina Titus as Environment Nevada gives her and Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley perfect scores for their voting records last year on environmental issues.

Republican Sen. John Ensign promises town hall meetings to bash the health care bill, perhaps starting with one Friday in Las Vegas – though his office is declining to comment on the details.

That’s all for now. Check back often for all the political news in Nevada.