LET'S SEE WHERE THEY WOULD CUT

Gov. Kenny Guinn has explained that raising taxes is the only realistic way
to close state government's two-year $700 million budget deficit. The
Republican governor has noted that he streamlined state government during
his first four years in office and that his proposed two-year budget has
been trimmed back as far as it could be without jeopardizing essential
services.

Many Republican legislators, however, still cling to the fiction that a
significant increase in taxes can be avoided as long as reductions are made
to what they view as a bloated government. We'd like to see exactly all the
programs they'd like to slash and eliminate that could erase the $700
million deficit.

Most state agencies are barely getting by as they try to meet the needs of
the nation's fastest-growing state -- others face an impossible task in
living up to their missions.

To get an idea of how just one agency is faring during this budget
austerity, the governor is recommending a significant reduction for the
Nevada Division of Investigations, an important resource that provides
assistance statewide for major investigations involving murder, sexual
assault, child abuse and narcotics.

In the 79-employee division, Guinn is proposing that 39 positions be
eliminated. Those jobs lost will come from the anti-drug trafficking unit
that serves Carson City, Lake Tahoe and rural areas of the state.

It's a sad commentary that something as important as fighting the flow of
illegal drug trafficking doesn't get the support it deserves -- but that
also can be said for public education and for agency after agency in state
government. Still, it would seem harsh to criticize Guinn for what he has
proposed in light of the political realities he's facing. After all, we
already know how loud the howls have been so far from some Republicans over
what Guinn conservatively has recommended -- imagine their outcry if he had
proposed more spending.

For that matter, we haven't seen too many Democrats racing to raise taxes
more than Guinn has proposed.

Nevertheless, as more details of the governor's proposed budget emerge, if
anything it is becoming obvious that more money is needed, not less.