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I believe it is essential that you have someone who knows your community and will represent your interests with integrity, especially when it comes to issues related to taxes, education and health care. Please compare my record to other candidates in the race for Assembly District 26 Taxes and Spending
The Nevada State Legislature has been out of control in its rapid increase in taxing and spending. After passing the single largest tax increase in Nevada history in 2003, the legislature returned only $300 million of a roughly $800 million surplus, your tax dollars, in the form of a DMV rebate in 2005. I was watching this process very closely, and I will tell you that if the Governor had not threatened a veto of the budget, the entire surplus would have been spent on new programs. The State Legislature needs conservative fiscal control and I encourage you to vote for me to fight for you and vote on your behalf to control government taxation and growth. TASC – Tax and Spending Control Initiative
I am in full support of the TASC amendment. TASC will tie growth in government spending to population growth plus inflation. When revenue comes in over the limit, the surplus is given back to the taxpayers. Our state government has grown over 50 percent in the last two legislative sessions, yet population growth has been limited to less than 10 percent. Detractors of this initiative will tell you that a similar proposal has not worked in the State of Colorado, but it has worked for 16 years and if there is a need to spend more money, voters have that option available to them in Nevada. TASC also has a rainy day fund that will allow for emergency situations with our state budget. The State Legislature’s inability to consider any meaningful tax cuts when presented with a huge surplus of taxpayer dollars in 2005 is proof that TASC is needed because the State Legislature will be faced with another surplus of Nevada taxpayer money estimated to be as high as $1 billion in 2007. As we must as hard-working citizens, the Nevada Legislature must be forced to prioritize its spending needs. Angle Property Tax Initiative – Nevada’s Prop. 13
I am in full support of the Angle Property Tax petition. Under pressure from Nevadans, the State Legislature passed what is considered by many legal experts, an unconstitutional split roll last session in its property cap. They passed a 3 percent cap in annual tax increases for owner-occupied homes, and gave an 8 percent cap for businesses and all other properties. There are no guarantees on this cap for it is statute and can change at any time. The initiative will give assurance to all Nevadans by placing a property tax cap in the Nevada Constitution that limits tax increases to one percent per year. This will let Nevadans budget accordingly and give the state a stable and reliable tax base. All property will be treated equally. Health Care
I want to use my background as a health insurance broker to address our health insurance crisis not only in the nation but in the State of Nevada. I am very concerned abut the fact that we are 5th in the nation in the number of people who are uninsured. Indigent patients are using emergency rooms, the most expensive facility, as their primary care physicians, which affects everyone’s rates. We need to evaluate medical mandates and give the open market a chance to compete by offering a medical insurance plan that will provide for catastrophic health care. Paying for indigent care through increased individual and employer paid medical insurance premiums as well as Nevada tax payer dollars is a system that is unacceptable. With our health insurance premiums being the highest in the nation, we should not be taxing insurance premiums to the level that we do. The insurance premium tax is the largest industry tax second only to gaming in the state. Insurance companies, hospitals, and doctors do not pay this tax - consumers do. Health insurance costs are being driven up by attorneys, mandates, and a growing uninsured population. Nevadans need tort reform, affordable insurance and treatment options available to them immediately. Education
As someone who is a former teacher at McQueen High School and who attended local elementary schools, Reno High School, and the University of Nevada, I bring a tremendous insight into our education system in Northern Nevada. First and foremost, we need to get tax dollars into our classrooms to help our students and not to increase bureaucracy. We need accountability on where and why money is being spent in our public education system. I am very concerned about an extremely large and growing population of high school students who are graduating and need remediation in math and English. I am a strong advocate for choices for families by supporting vouchers, charter schools, and home schooling. Our public school system needs competition to improve and they need to provide other opportunities for students to achieve success. Seniors
Nevada needs to put a system in place for random evaluation of assisted living facilities. This type of assessment is currently in place for the health department and child protective services. This issue affects Nevada individuals and families and we have a public duty to protect our elderly against physical and mental abuse, neglect and financial ruin. Medicare issues concerning the outrageous cost of prescription drugs and the speed and level of Medicaid reimbursements must be addressed. Pro Business
As a small business owner, I know the day to day challenges of owning your own business. Nevada has been known as a great place to do business and we need to maintain that environment to promote economic development in the state. Illegal Immigration It is imperative that we secure our borders immediately. I do not support illegal immigration. The cost to our schools, health care system, and costs related to criminal activity are issues that must be addressed immediately. Our National security is at major risk and we must enforce our laws related to people that are breaking the law in our country. Private Property
I fully support every individual’s right to private property. It is wrong to use Eminent Domain to condemn personal property to give to another private party because the government will obtain higher tax revenues. Eminent Domain procedures should only be used for a public use. I am very concerned about governments increased abuse of eminent domain against private property owners and will support property owners on this issue. Second Amendment I support the contitutionally protected right of the people to keep and bear arms for security and defense of self, family, property, as well as for all other lawful purposes. Smart Growth
As a lifelong Nevadan, I have personally seen our community change. We need to make sure we are planning accordingly for our transportation, commercial, industrial, and housing needs. Redevelopment in many parts of our community is very important to make sure we don’t abandon our core. I understand the issues facing us and will work hard to make sure that Nevadans maintain the quality of life they are accustomed to having in this great state.
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