Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Time for legislators to earn pay

Before our legislators return to Carson City they should take time and visit with the decision makers in their local schools. I'm sure they will find the principals and others available for discussions about how legislative decisions affect their schools. Legislators may even find that the level of frustration is about to boil over as the educators try to meet the needs of our children.

Henderson legislators won't have to travel far to visit with Principal Mark Coleman of Silverado High School and Principal Betty Sabo of Green Valley High School. Both of them are in the position of losing three teaching/coaching candidates for the coming school year. If this situation isn't resolved soon, you can safely bet our legislators will hear about it this fall and next year.

I asked Coleman, an experienced educator and community leader, who should be blamed for the staffing problem. He answered in part as follows: "Not Superintendent Carlos Garcia. He has gone above and beyond in his fight for state funding for all of Nevada's children. Not the Clark County School District Board of Trustees. They have backed the superintendent all the way. You can't blame the superintendent for the decisions being made. And don't accuse Mr. Garcia of playing politics and holding students hostage in the political arena. Our politicians have already done that for over 120 days. So, who should be held accountable?"

Coleman isn't shy when fighting for his teachers and students. He knows the game being played in Carson City and sees through the nonsense being dished out by those legislators trying to justify their refusal to properly fund the schools and other state services. I asked him about specific issues and found him better informed than some legislators on these matters.

I have watched Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins and Assemblyman Josh Griffin discuss issues with Jon Ralston on his Las Vegas ONE television program "Face To Face With Jon Ralston." Perkins, a Democrat, and Griffin, a Republican, both have a solid grasp on taxing and spending issues. Probably their greatest strength is having a social conscience and a desire to serve. I expected this kind of performance from Perkins, but Griffin has been a pleasant surprise. His level of maturity outstrips most freshmen legislators we have seen in recent years. Some of the other legislators didn't come across with the same sincerity and knowledge.

Little has been said about Assemblyman Joe Hardy and I haven't seen him on television. Joe, a Boulder City family doctor, certainly has the experience and good sense to stand up and be counted after giving every issue deep thought. His years of medical experience and public service should serve the state well when returning to finish the job in Carson City.

There is no good reason for the legislators to spend more than a couple of days in session next week. A full-page ad published in the daily newspapers of Las Vegas and Reno did its best to further confuse the issue of taxation. A letter from Gov. Kenny Guinn to Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, a Republican from Douglas County, blows away the fog it created.

Guinn's letter of five pages began as follows: "Earlier this week, Reno and Las Vegas newspapers carried full-page ads purporting to be authored by you, and paid for by a Mr. Robert Bigelow of Las Vegas. The ad is misleading, inaccurate and does a great disservice to the people of this state. As elected officials, we all bear a responsibility to provide our constituents with accurate information and I am compelled to respond to the serious misrepresentations in these ads."

Like the educator and successful businessman he is, the governor took each issue and explained them thoroughly. He then ended the letter with: "No responsible parent, elected official or taxpayer wants our schools to close. I will continue to do everything in my power to secure a quality education for our students, a desire I believe you share. The decision to fund the schools of this state now rests in the hands of the Legislature, as does the passage of a tax plan that will address the needs of our growing state.

"The people of this state should know how their tax dollars are being spent, and the best way to do that is by providing accurate information. I am hopeful my clarification of the statements made in yesterday's ads will be useful to you as you consider your position on the important matters still facing you and your colleagues."

Next week we will learn if Hettrick and his few followers are educable.

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