In case you missed it…
Public employee retirements
One of the major obstacles facing any serious effort to reform public sector pensions is a massive deficit of knowledge. Unfortunately, many of the special interests that profit off the status quo—such as public sector unions—are happy to maintain this level of ignorance among the public. A recent proposal to have public sector retirement systems actually make the full cost of their pensions known has received dramatic backlash from government insiders. (Read more)
Government regulation
Government’s overzealous efforts to regulate every aspect of the economy sometimes has the unintended consequence of slowing growth, hampering innovation and restricting progress. The rest of the time, it has that effect on purpose. The European Parliament’s recent resolution to “abolish planned obsolescence” is a perfect example: The resolution actually aims to restrict how quickly technology can innovate, in an effort to “protect” customers from seeing their new technologies become outdated “too quickly.” (Read more)
Tax and fiscal
According to a new study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Energy Institute, the tax cuts passed late last year are still showing dividends. According to the study, thanks to provisions within the tax bill, Nevada investor-owned utility residential ratepayers will save, on average, almost $200 per customer over the next five years. “It’s a good example of the widespread benefits of the tax reform,” said Michael Schaus, communications director at the Nevada Policy Research Institute. “Obviously, people saw extra money in their paycheck, but (the benefits) were broader than all that.” (Read more)
Transparency
Government agencies in Nevada are becoming even more brazen in their disregard for the state’s public records laws. The Washoe County School District, for example, recently refused to release a taxpayer-funded investigation concerning allegations of abuse and bullying within the special education department. Despite perfectly fitting the definition of a public record — the report was paid for with taxpayer money and reflects material of profound public importance — the school district refused to provide a copy to the RGJ, prompting the newspaper to sue. Nevada Policy Research Institute Policy Director Robert Fellner points out that this is just one of many cases that demonstrate the need for adding teeth to the current law. “Courts must be allowed to hold the government official who made the determination to withhold the record, charge an exorbitant fee, or similarly obstruct access in a bad-faith manner personally liable for the prevailing requester’s fees,” says Fellner. (Read more)
Government excess
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Board sent CEO Rossi Ralenkotter into retirement Tuesday with roaring applause, lavish praise, a video tribute… and $455,000 on top of his already-rich public retirement, despite his involvement in a scandal involving serious mishandling of public funds. “The retirement deal shows that the board is nothing more than a club for cronies,” said Nevada Policy Research Institute Communications Director Michael Schaus. “The board had absolutely no obligation to offer any sort of deal, and their decision to use taxpayer money to further enrich someone that has clearly violated the public trust in such an obvious way shows just how unserious the board is about even attempting to be responsible stewards of public dollars.” (Read more)
Don’t miss Kimberley Strassel in Las Vegas!
NPRI is welcoming the Wall Street Journal’s Kimberley Strassel back to Nevada to speak to our supporters about the abusive, corrupt and downright arrogant nature of big government this September! Kimberley will be speaking at our Anniversary Celebration in Las Vegas on September 20th, so don’t miss the opportunity to hear her document the plague of corruption, power abuse and political bias now besetting the nation! (Click here to register.)