Did you hear the breaking news yesterday?
The New York Times reported on a debt ceiling deal that would make deep cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security benefits without asking for an ounce of sacrifice from corporations and millionaires.
The bill would add millions to the unemployment rolls and deny medical care to the most vulnerable among us - including many of the people SEIU members care for on a daily basis.
It's up to us to stop this bill. You should make an emergency call to your member of Congress RIGHT NOW and tell them to stand strong against these cuts. Use this phone number:
1-877-736-7831
Together we can stop this bill with enough grassroots participation. Today, dozens of member-driven groups are pushing calls to Congress encouraging their representatives to stand strong against these outrageous cuts.
Please make the call, and we'll keep you up-to-date on what we're hearing in our conversations about the debt deal.
In solidarity,
Mary Kay Henry
President, SEIU
P.S. After you've made the call, please report what your Member of Congress said at this link:
http://action.seiu.org/debt-ceiling-calls
Friday, July 29, 2011
LOBBYIST MESSAGE
Subject: Reform or shell game
The fact that public education must adapt to the 21st Century is understood The LWVLVV is preparing a study of the relationship of public education and the Federal government. Three issues surrounding Clark County to review.
Superintendent Jones is reorganizing the district into performance zones
Clark County School District is reviewing the adequacy and equity of the Prime Six Schools - aka Sixth Grade Centers of the 1970's in relationship to achievement
Clark County School District hired a new Chief of Human Resources from Spokane , Washington- a district with 46 schools and 27,000 students at a salary of over $138,000 annually
The pattern is beginning to take shape-- the question is what is the big picture ?
Sam
The fact that public education must adapt to the 21st Century is understood The LWVLVV is preparing a study of the relationship of public education and the Federal government. Three issues surrounding Clark County to review.
Superintendent Jones is reorganizing the district into performance zones
Clark County School District is reviewing the adequacy and equity of the Prime Six Schools - aka Sixth Grade Centers of the 1970's in relationship to achievement
Clark County School District hired a new Chief of Human Resources from Spokane , Washington- a district with 46 schools and 27,000 students at a salary of over $138,000 annually
The pattern is beginning to take shape-- the question is what is the big picture ?
Sam
LOBBYIST MESSAGE
See http://finance.yahoo.com/taxes/article/113173/states-pay-most-least-taxes-247wallst
2. Nevada
Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 7.5%
Total state and local taxes collected: $20 billion
Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 52.5%
Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 47.5%
Nevada has the second-lowest tax burden in the country, with residents paying just 7.5% of their income on state and local taxes. Nearly half of all state tax revenue comes from non-residents. According to the Tax Association's State Business Tax Climate Index, Nevada has one of the most favorable environments for business, as it is one of the four states to levy no corporate tax at all. A significant amount of the state's revenue comes from "sin taxes" on gambling, alcohol, and tobacco, most of which comes from tourists. Sales tax is above the national average, and the tax on gasoline is one of the highest in the country. Counties are also allowed to levy additional gas taxes on top of the state.
2. Nevada
Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 7.5%
Total state and local taxes collected: $20 billion
Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 52.5%
Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 47.5%
Nevada has the second-lowest tax burden in the country, with residents paying just 7.5% of their income on state and local taxes. Nearly half of all state tax revenue comes from non-residents. According to the Tax Association's State Business Tax Climate Index, Nevada has one of the most favorable environments for business, as it is one of the four states to levy no corporate tax at all. A significant amount of the state's revenue comes from "sin taxes" on gambling, alcohol, and tobacco, most of which comes from tourists. Sales tax is above the national average, and the tax on gasoline is one of the highest in the country. Counties are also allowed to levy additional gas taxes on top of the state.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
LOBBYIST MESSAGE
FYI
Dear Nevada News Service supporters,
We wanted to let you know that the story related to Budget Policy & Priorities that aired on 7/20/2011 was picked up by the Clear Channel (460 stations) NV Statewide and distributed to 460 news talk stations across the country.
To see the RSS version of the story and to listen to the podcast version of the story click this link:
http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/21305-1
The banner or story summary for this story is:
Las Vegas, NV — On Tuesday, President Obama renewed his push for a bipartisan deal to reduce the national deficit, but the scope of that deal – which appears to still include deep cuts to food assistance programs and Medicaid – concerns local advocates. They say the need for these programs continues to rise, and worry that the main impact of the debt plan is to shift the burden of paying for these programs to the states. Comments from Cherie Jamason (JAY-ma-son), president and CEO, Food Bank of Northern Nevada; and Jon Sasser, advocacy coordinator, Statewide Legal Services.
Public News Service-NV
July 20, 2011
NV Advocates: Latest Deficit Deal Shifts Burden to States
LAS VEGAS - Nevada ranks third in the nation for the number of new people signing up for help putting food on the table through the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. But SNAP is one of the programs House Republicans have targeted for deep cuts of $20 billion, in order to trim the deficit.
Cherie Jamason, president and chief executive officer of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, says high unemployment has driven double-digit growth in the demand for food assistance for three years in a row.
"Right now, one in five kids in Nevada lives in a home where there's not enough food for three meals every day. So, the only way to accommodate a $20 billion cut is to serve fewer people or to provide a smaller benefit."
The current benefit is already less than $1 a day per meal per person, Jamason says, and further cuts will mean more Nevadans will experience hunger. President Obama, who says time is running out to meet the deadline to raise the nation's debt ceiling, still is working to forge a deal that includes a combination of cuts and new revenue.
Late Tuesday, six U.S. senators offered a plan that calls for $4 trillion in deficit reduction over 10 years. It also appears to impose deep cuts to vital programs such as Medicaid, says Jon Sasser, Statewide Legal Services advocacy coordinator.
"Under these proposals, the percentage of medical costs paid by the federal government would go down and the percent paid by the state would rise. This so-called 'deficit reduction plan' doesn't actually reduce government costs, but simply shifts these costs onto the states. "
The Medicaid caseload is up by more than 100,000 in Nevada, Sasser says, and the state can't afford the deficit-reduction plans on the table in Washington.
"The result of these proposals is to balance the federal budget on the backs of the most vulnerable Nevadans, and I hope that Sen. (Harry) Reid will use his position as Senate majority leader to reject these ideas."
Dear Nevada News Service supporters,
We wanted to let you know that the story related to Budget Policy & Priorities that aired on 7/20/2011 was picked up by the Clear Channel (460 stations) NV Statewide and distributed to 460 news talk stations across the country.
To see the RSS version of the story and to listen to the podcast version of the story click this link:
http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/21305-1
The banner or story summary for this story is:
Las Vegas, NV — On Tuesday, President Obama renewed his push for a bipartisan deal to reduce the national deficit, but the scope of that deal – which appears to still include deep cuts to food assistance programs and Medicaid – concerns local advocates. They say the need for these programs continues to rise, and worry that the main impact of the debt plan is to shift the burden of paying for these programs to the states. Comments from Cherie Jamason (JAY-ma-son), president and CEO, Food Bank of Northern Nevada; and Jon Sasser, advocacy coordinator, Statewide Legal Services.
Public News Service-NV
July 20, 2011
NV Advocates: Latest Deficit Deal Shifts Burden to States
LAS VEGAS - Nevada ranks third in the nation for the number of new people signing up for help putting food on the table through the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. But SNAP is one of the programs House Republicans have targeted for deep cuts of $20 billion, in order to trim the deficit.
Cherie Jamason, president and chief executive officer of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, says high unemployment has driven double-digit growth in the demand for food assistance for three years in a row.
"Right now, one in five kids in Nevada lives in a home where there's not enough food for three meals every day. So, the only way to accommodate a $20 billion cut is to serve fewer people or to provide a smaller benefit."
The current benefit is already less than $1 a day per meal per person, Jamason says, and further cuts will mean more Nevadans will experience hunger. President Obama, who says time is running out to meet the deadline to raise the nation's debt ceiling, still is working to forge a deal that includes a combination of cuts and new revenue.
Late Tuesday, six U.S. senators offered a plan that calls for $4 trillion in deficit reduction over 10 years. It also appears to impose deep cuts to vital programs such as Medicaid, says Jon Sasser, Statewide Legal Services advocacy coordinator.
"Under these proposals, the percentage of medical costs paid by the federal government would go down and the percent paid by the state would rise. This so-called 'deficit reduction plan' doesn't actually reduce government costs, but simply shifts these costs onto the states. "
The Medicaid caseload is up by more than 100,000 in Nevada, Sasser says, and the state can't afford the deficit-reduction plans on the table in Washington.
"The result of these proposals is to balance the federal budget on the backs of the most vulnerable Nevadans, and I hope that Sen. (Harry) Reid will use his position as Senate majority leader to reject these ideas."
Friday, July 15, 2011
LOBBYIST MESSAGE
Hello,
As we well understand the impact of the Nevada 2011 session will be unfolding over the next two years. SB 271, concerning growth and Lake Tahoe, reminds us of tough lessons learned when growth was a driving engine in Southern Nevada. The law maintains that there will be regulation, however , there is a window to move more rapidity in expanding development in the area. We also know that the devil is in the details. The LWVNV will be watching how SB 271 is implemented.
The tie breaker which settled the budget in session 2011 involves home rule. Local governments are now petitioning for return of funds taken to balance the 2009 budget. This too will most assuredly go to the courts. The budget revolves around revenue. The Nevada Tax system can not remain as is.
Citizens look to elected officials to speak for them and to represent their needs and issues. We can look back over 2011 and evaluaate the present team of elected officials and reference how they did their due diligence based upon their voting record to decide if they should remain in office or not. Some are looking to move into other elected positions. Name recognition and the fact that in addition to being elected to office they may be nice individuals is not a litmus test for remaining in public office.
Regards,
Sam King LWVNV Grassroots Advocate / Lobbyist
As we well understand the impact of the Nevada 2011 session will be unfolding over the next two years. SB 271, concerning growth and Lake Tahoe, reminds us of tough lessons learned when growth was a driving engine in Southern Nevada. The law maintains that there will be regulation, however , there is a window to move more rapidity in expanding development in the area. We also know that the devil is in the details. The LWVNV will be watching how SB 271 is implemented.
The tie breaker which settled the budget in session 2011 involves home rule. Local governments are now petitioning for return of funds taken to balance the 2009 budget. This too will most assuredly go to the courts. The budget revolves around revenue. The Nevada Tax system can not remain as is.
Citizens look to elected officials to speak for them and to represent their needs and issues. We can look back over 2011 and evaluaate the present team of elected officials and reference how they did their due diligence based upon their voting record to decide if they should remain in office or not. Some are looking to move into other elected positions. Name recognition and the fact that in addition to being elected to office they may be nice individuals is not a litmus test for remaining in public office.
Regards,
Sam King LWVNV Grassroots Advocate / Lobbyist
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