Friday, May 2, 2003 | 9:05 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- The hot dog vendor has already added plenty of mustard to the tax debate. Now the other side is rolling out a penny for your thoughts.
Nevadans for Real Tax Fairness -- the group organized by the Business Representative Group that hates the gross receipts tax -- was roundly criticized by the governor and others for a television ad featuring a downtown Reno hot dog vendor.
The implication was that this guy would earn the $450,000 needed to trigger payment of the one quarter of one percent tax on business receipts.
On the flip side is Nevadans for Tax Fairness -- the group organized by ad guru Mark Brown to support the gross receipts -- with a penny to suggest the business tax has such a minimal impact.
The NTF coalition -- which for disclosure purposes includes both American Nevada Corp. and the Greenspun Corp., which owns the Las Vegas Sun -- has unleashed a massive grass-roots campaign to build support for the gross receipts.
In addition to the 50,000 letters sent to businesses, ads are beginning to pop up on computer screens.
Anyone who hoped to read a Reno Gazette-Journal article about how one of those businesses -- Craftsman Press West in Reno -- would be impacted by gross receipts, were also steered Thursday to the NTF website.
A penny scrolled across the bottom of the Gazette-Journal's home page asking, "Is a quarter penny too much to ask?" before referring the computer user to www.taxfairness.info.
The Gazette-Journal's executive editor, Tonya Cunning, said she first saw the ad today and said the news side does not always coordinate with the advertising side on these types of things.
"Clearly it is a just a coincidence that the ad is on the website the same day that a story on the gross receipts tax is (on the website.) It's an odd coincidence."
More grist for the tax mill will hit the airwaves soon as the Tax Fairness group plans a series of TV ads focused on who is currently paying for the state's education, public safety and senior prescriptions needs.
Bacon with Beers
Much has been written and said about the statements Bob Beers wrote in an e-mail about service workers.
Some read his comments about the workers' lack of appreciation for education as borderline racist because so many service workers are Hispanic.
Now there is a similar reaction from some people to a statement by Nevada Manufacturers Association lobbyist Ray Bacon, during a chamber event in Elko last week, attended by Gov. Kenny Guinn.
"If anyone has pre-conceived notions about the Hispanic community, they need only look to Jeremy Aguero as a role model," Bacon was remembered as saying.
Aguero is the Las Vegas economist who served as the technical adviser to the Nevada Task Force on Tax Policy. His firm, Applied Analysis, has helped everyone from the Nevada Taxpayers Association to the governor formulate tax plans.
In confirming making the statement Bacon said Thursday that he couldn't understand how anyone could find his comments disparaging. He said he simply meant that Aguero was well-regarded.
No one would disagree with that part.
Smart ALEC
Although the Legislative Commission report on lawmaker travel clearly outlined the cost incurred for two anti-taxers to attend conferences, there was no mention of any reimbursements.
The American Legislative Exchange Council did, however, reimburse the state for the $1,195 incurred by Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, for a trip to Washington, D.C., last December.
It's a good thing. Dues to ALEC and two other legislative organizations costs close to $400,000 in a biennium.
The sporting life
Spring has yet to come to the state capital, with snow still dumping on the Sierra and warm coats still required.
So legislators have been keeping their sports indoors.
On Wednesday, the GOP drubbed the Democrats in the biennial basketball game, 62-40. The donkeys had some words of blame for this writer who served as a whistle-shy ref (for both teams).
But the result, almost pre-ordained from the roster alone, clearly points to the Dems' need to recruit good candidates for office -- and thus, better ball players for the 2005 game.
As Republican Secretary of State Dean Heller (18 points) and Storey County Commission Chairman Bum Hess (17 points) stole the show, Democrats heaved for breath, called numerous time-outs and couldn't get a sub in Assemblyman Wendell Williams, who stayed on the bench eating ice cream.
Later it was revealed that Williams was actually the coach. But GOP coach Renee Parker, the deputy secretary of state, passed on the desserts and just got to see some sweet play by her squad.
Recently the GOP's prowess was also seen at the bowling alley as freshman Assemblyman Garn Mabey, R-Las Vegas, proved something of a strike king.
Chad Christensen, R-Las Vegas, even had a decent score although he bowls without putting his fingers in the holes of the ball -- choosing instead to hurl the ball with a twist of the wrist.
Maybe Christensen will use that spin on the mound May 7 in the Senate vs. Assembly softball game. That is, if it's not snowed out.
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