HOT OFF THE PRESS! Black’s Blueprint: 7 Steps for Rebuilding Nevada

The following letter has been mailed to Assembly District 19 Republicans.  Click here to download a printable PDF copy of the document…

Nevadans hadn’t elected a Democrat governor since 1994 until Steve Sisolak was elected in 2018.  Now our state’s entire economy has been destroyed because of his decisions.

Lesson learned.

The damage didn’t have to be this bad.  And it never should have taken this long to “Reopen Nevada.”  But what’s done is done.

Now we need to rebuild.

Shutting down our economy means there is now a HUGE hole in our state budget.  And it’ll be up to the Nevada Legislature – in a Special Session later this summer or next year – to fix it.

Based on my opponent’s record, Chris Edwards is NOT the person you want in the Assembly when some very tough choices are going to have to be made…

A.)  He supported 26 out of 32 tax hikes – including multiple “temporary” tax hikes that, of course, became permanent.

B.)  He opposes tax cuts. Bragged about it in Carson City when he declared: “I did not run on a campaign to give people a tax break.”  It’s on video.

C.)  He supported raising taxes $400 million to protect state employees from suffering pay and benefit reductions, declaring…

“I’m absolutely willing to vote for revenues that would restore the pay that they’ve lost; to make sure they don’t have to take the furloughs; to make sure that they get longevity pay and the COLA (cost of living increase).”

D.)  He has voted for billion-dollar budget increases in each of his three sessions in the Legislature.

If that’s what you want in a state legislator, you may as well vote for a Democrat!

“But, Annie,” some have asked, “what would you do instead?”

Great question.  Fair question.  So…

First, unlike Mr. Edwards, I have taken tax hikes completely off the table by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge promising you I will “oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.”  You have it in writing.

Secondly, here’s “Black’s Blueprint: 7 Steps for Rebuilding Nevada”…

1.)  EMERGENCY POWERS LIMITATION ACT

It’s one thing to give the governor the power to declare a short-term emergency.  It’s another thing to give him an indefinite blank check – like what we’ve experienced during the COVID-19 shutdown.

The Legislature needs to pass a bill that limits the scope and length of time any governor can wield “emergency powers” – including the suspension of constitutional rights – without seeking the approval of the elected members of the Legislature.

A 30-day limit seems reasonable.  We should never again be in a position where one person has unilateral, unrestrained, indefinite authoritarian control over our lives and livelihoods.

2.)  CUT TAXES

Nevada’s families and businesses have been crushed by the #SisolakShutdown.  To rebuild we must let taxpayers keep more money in their pockets to pull themselves out of the abyss. That includes…

• Cutting the statewide sales tax. Every penny you get to keep is a penny you can spend on your family for what YOU want, not what the government thinks you need.
• Cutting vehicle registration fees. Nevada’s registration fees have always been ridiculously too high for what amounts to a piece of paper you keep in your glove box.  A flat $50/vehicle is more than enough.
• Cutting the Commerce Tax. This is a tax on business income, not business profits.  Businesses are going to need every last dime to reinvest in rebuilding their operations.
• Cutting the Modified Business Tax. This tax penalizes employers for hiring employees.  That’s just stupid – especially now.
• Cutting the state business license fee. Businesses are already nickel-and-dimed enough by local level fees.

Every tax cut is more money in your pocket and less money in the government’s – exactly as it should be to rebuild our economy!

3.)  CUT SPENDING

Gov. Sisolak has *said* he won’t raise taxes to fill the budget hole.  But you’ve heard that sort of thing before.

Of course, even if he did want to raise taxes, who would he raise them on?  You don’t have any money.  Businesses don’t have any money.  And you can’t get blood from a stone.

Which means the only way to balance the budget is to cut spending.  It’s no longer enough for the government to do more with less.  It’s going to have to do less with less.

The state’s biggest expense is employee salaries and benefits. So like Willy Sutton – who said he robbed banks because that’s where the money was – we’re going to have to lay off some workers, while others will have to take pay cuts.

And Gov. Sisolak himself has already set the precedent for determining how to do this.

Just as the governor separated our jobs and businesses into “essential” and “non-essential,” all government departments, programs and personnel must be separated into “critical” and “non-critical.”

If “non-critical,” it needs to go on the chopping block.

4.)  AMBULANCE-CHASER PROTECTION

Many businesses are already on the verge of bankruptcy – if they haven’t gone under already.  The LAST thing they need to worry about are frivolous COVID-19 lawsuits from greedy trial lawyers.

We need a bill – similar to legislation currently being considered in Congress – to protect responsible Nevada business owners from lawsuit abuse tied to the coronavirus crisis.

5.)  OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE REPEALS

It’s one thing to require that doctors, lawyers, building contractors and electricians obtain an occupational license to protect the public.

It’s another thing altogether to require that hairdressers, barbers, cosmetologists and interior decorators get one.

If your occupation doesn’t pose a serious danger to the public, you shouldn’t be required to get a government permission slip to provide for yourself and your family.

6.)  HOMESCHOOLING PROMOTION & SUPPORT

Thanks to the #SisolakShutdown, we’re all homeschoolers now!

A recent USA Today survey found that even if schools reopen this fall, 60% of parents would likely continue homeschooling, with 30% saying they would “very likely” continue homeschooling.

And every homeschooled student means less money taxpayers have to fork over to educate them in a government school.

So we should pass legislation that not only ENCOURAGES homeschooling, but provides parents with assistance and other resources to make this a viable option for more families.

7.)  TAXPAYER BILL OF RIGHTS

Nevada WILL recover.  You can’t keep us down.

But just like after the Great Recession of 2008, when the economy gets better politicians will start spending money recklessly again.

They can’t help it.  It’s what they do.

So I propose a Taxpayer Bill of Rights – similar to the TABOR law in Colorado and along the same lines as former State Sen. Bob Beers’ “Tax and Spend Control” initiative.

Such a bill would limit budget increases – like the three billion-dollar budget hikes Mr. Edwards voted for – to the combined rate of inflation plus population growth, unless approved by a vote of the people.

It’s not enough to just *say* government should live within its means.  There ought to be a law!

These 7 proposals would restrict the size, scope and COST of government, put more money back in your pocket and allow you more freedom over your own life and livelihood.

Of course, my opponent – who has NO PLAN, by the way – will surely come up with all kinds of reasons why this blueprint for rebuilding Nevada “can’t be done.”

But as the saying goes, those who say something can’t be done should get out of the way of people who are doing it.

It’s not that these things *can’t* be done.  Other states are already doing them.  So the problem isn’t a lack of ability, but a lack of will.

Others will say these proposals won’t pass as long as Democrats are in charge.  Valid point.  However…

Would you rather have someone representing you in Carson City who’s willing to fight in the arena…or someone who will say, “Thank you, sir, may I have another?”

If you want a fighter rather than a wallflower, please vote for Annie Black for Assembly District 19!

Conservatively yours,
Annie Black

P.S.  If you’ve missed or misplaced any of my previous AnnieGrams, they’re all posted on the “AnnieGram” page of my website: www.ElectAnnieBlack.com

P.P.S.  Do you have a question or concern?  Call me on my cell at (702) 872-2222.  Or send an email to: [email protected]

Annie Black is Republican candidate for Nevada State Assembly District 19.  Paid for by Friends of Annie Black.