Chummy Reid, Ensign are good for Nevada

To the editor:

The picture in Monday’s newspaper of Sen. John Ensign good naturedly giving Sen. Harry Reid a gift of a "chunk" of coal should remind all Nevadans of how fortunate we are that our senators put partisanship aside to work for the good of the state.

At present, Nevada is in an especially strong position in national politics. Sen. Reid is Senate majority leader and Sen. Ensign serves in senior minority leadership. In a political environment which is characterized by strong partisanship and a tendency to demonize the opposition, our senators choose to avoid that when it comes to issues concerning their state.

Political cynics, including some in the press, like to make fun of our senators’ decision not to attack each other personally. The press often prefers a cat fight to a story about cooperation. But the senators’ position helps Nevadans. Whether the issue is mining, higher education, transportation or other concerns, we gain because of their joint efforts.

While their relationship seems out of style today, there is a strong tradition of such activity in the past. In the 1950s, Speaker Sam Rayburn and Minority Leader Joe Martin worked closely to make the House an effective legislative body. In the 1960s, majority leaders Lyndon Johnson and Mike Mansfield worked with Minority Leader Everett Dirksen to achieve the same in the Senate. In the 1980s, President Reagan and Speaker Tip O’Neill forged a cooperative relationship that, among other things, gave us a much-strengthened Social Security system. The nation would be well-served if more political leaders followed in this tradition.

As a small state, Nevada is also in the uniquely strong position of having two House members (Shelley Berkley and Jon Porter), representing both parties, serving on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. That, plus the two upcoming presidential caucuses, shows the position of strength Nevada enjoys in the national political environment today.

There is always plenty of reason to criticize politicians, but your picture of Sens. Reid and Ensign and their staffs getting together for a holiday party indicates that they sometimes get things right. Nevada is better for it.

Leonard "Pat" Goodall

LAS VEGAS

Budget woes

To the editor:

I think it is imperative the public know that the proposed state budget cuts have started to create a trickle-down effect in some state agencies. A group I associate with that helps mentally challenged people and their families has been told by their state agency that they must cut their services by an additional 10 percent on top of the proposed 8 percent requested by the governor. This cut will cause them to completely close at least one of their homes that provides housing for mentally challenged adults and to fire at least two caregivers.

They are also anticipating that they will have to close their whole respite program due to the state agency planning to cut all respite from their budget, leaving all parents and caregivers in Las Vegas with only one option of receiving respite: paying themselves for private services.

The people who qualify for this help need it. They can’t afford to utilize these slim services as it is without these cuts happening.

LEE JACKSON

LAS VEGAS

Mail theft

To the editor:

I read with interest Publisher Sherman Frederick’s Sunday column concerning the theft of his mail and his effort to seek justice. All I can tell Mr. Frederick is that if he is looking for justice, don’t call Metro.

My outgoing letters were taken on Sept. 28. I called Metro to alert them and was told they don’t take reports concerning mail taken from letter boxes. They did say that if a pattern developed they would consider sending an officer to check around. I may be missing something, but if they won’t take an initial report for the file, how would they ever know if a pattern was developing?

When I brought the matter to the attention of Sheriff Doug Gillespie, he was kind enough to send me the phone number of the local post office.

Maybe a pattern is developing in my neighborhood, Canyon Ranch Estates. A sign is posted at the gate alerting residents of letter box mail thefts.

HAROLD WALDRON

LAS VEGAS

Personnel costs

To the editor:

I’d like to voice a hearty "second" to your Wednesday editorial suggesting that the city of Las Vegas (as well as other governmental entities) get its personnel costs under control.

For too long, we have read of the excellent pay and retirement benefits afforded to government employees when compared to private-sector employees.

Many — if not most — in the private sector can only dream of the benefits and salary that their comparable government brethren make. They would long for the day that they could draw excellent pay, (including "step increases" and "cost of living" adjustments) during their career and then retire on 50, 60 or 70 percent (or more) of their peak salary.

At last reading, state and local governments in Nevada have accumulated more than $4 billion in unfunded liabilities for retiree health benefits. The private sector could not afford to act in such a way without incurring the wrath of shareholders, to say nothing of politicians. How does government get away with such an action? We "shareholders" (taxpayers) have little power to object.

Another reason: The private sector is restrained in how much it can increase prices in order to pay for such perks; government is not. It just returns, relatively unrestrained, to the open pockets of taxpayers and reaches in.

As to the comments of one union official who stated that city employees are perceived as being "fat, dumb and happy," that they make a "living wage" (highly relative union jargon), and are not getting rich, may I state that few, if any, in comparable private-sector positions are "getting rich" and many make less than the "living wage" of government employees. And to the inevitable protestations to come regarding how "hard-working," "deserving," "dedicated" etc., etc., government employees are, I say, so are those in the private sector.

I don’t believe that government employees are fat, dumb and happy. I’ve known quite a few and know them to be good, dedicated people. Government employees, like all employees, deserve to be compensated fairly, especially fire and police personnel.

But when I see data on government employee pay and benefits, I, as a taxpayer, can only say, "Give me a break."

Niel Pezzillo

HENDERSON

Numbers game

To the editor:

A state lottery is the solution to the education budget crisis. A lottery would eliminate the plan to raise casino and business taxes. Lottery profits would go solely to education funding.

William Donati

LAS VEGAS