Taxes

In case you missed it…

John Tsarpalas

Getting involved

The Policy Circle   — a national organization in which women facilitate discussion of public policy on both the national and local level with neighbors, friends and community leaders — is getting active here in Nevada. It provides a calendar with suggested topics for meetings, short issue briefs that provide an overview of the topic and discussion pointers, so women locally can begin in-depth discussions about the policies that impact all of our lives. Working with local think tanks like Nevada Policy, The Policy Circle provides inside information on issues of the day, but is still completely managed, organized and driven by women in local communities who realize policy’s importance.

The Circle’s website offers great tools for Nevada women interested in getting their friends, neighbors and coworkers more involved in policy discussions — especially relevant, with the next legislative session almost here! If you’d like some assistance in holding meetings where people can inform, be informed, and have good discussions of the issues, click here to learn more about The Policy Circle and get involved!

Corruption and abuse in CCSD

In recent years Nevadans have seen numerous reports of special-needs students in the Clark County School District being physically abused by teachers and aides. Is deliberate indifference to the physical abuse of its autistic students part of Clark County School District’s business plan? It might seem like an entirely outrageous allegation, however, court records — specifically, federal complaints filed and adjudicated against the district over the last two decades — present a darker picture. Nevada Policy’s Vice President Steve Miller’s latest investigative series takes a deep dive into the issue. Part two and Part three of the series explore the real-life impact CCSD’s corruption, abuse and indifference has had on some of the district’s most vulnerable students. (Read Part two and Part three here)

 

Tax and spend

Proving that absolutely nothing is out of reach of a tax-happy government, the state of California now wants to tax text messages. Revenue from the proposed tax would go toward offsetting the cost of a state program that funds communication services for low-income earners as well as some disabled state residents. It’s not entirely clear, however, what the final cost would be to customers. Some estimates suggest the text-tax could cost consumers more than $40 million per year. Moreover, in addition to taxing any and all text messages moving forward, the proposal would also apply to texts sent up to five years ago. (Read more)

 

Minimum wage

Behind the argument for a higher minimum wage is a fundamental misunderstanding of what wages actually represent. As National Review’s Kevin Williamson explains, “People value what they value and they prioritize what they prioritize, each according to his own needs, tastes, and interests.” And it is that personal judgment of value that sets the prices people will pay for goods, services and labor. In other words, while the government might be able to mandate particular prices (for example, wages), those mandates won’t change the actual value that consumers or employers place on those particular goods or services. If employers don’t value the work an employee does as much as government diktats say it “should,” they’ll simply do without that employee. Simply changing the minimum wage doesn’t change the real value of particular labor services, no matter how much some activists might wish it did. (Read more)

 

Government regulation

Libertarians and conservatives have cheered on President Donald Trump’s relentless campaign to roll back unnecessary federal regulation. The progressive response to this wave of deregulation, unsurprisingly, has been quite different. Center for American Progress Senior Advisor Sam Berger, for example, argued that “deregulation” is simply “a code word for letting big businesses cut corners at everyone else’s expense.” However, it wasn’t that long ago that top Democrats had a very different view and actually cheered the exact kind of deregulation the current administration is currently taking on. (Watch the video here)

John Tsarpalas

John Tsarpalas

President

John Tsarpalas is the President of the Nevada Policy, and is deeply committed to spreading limited government ideas and policy to create a better, more prosperous Nevada for all.

For over three decades, John has educated others in the ideals and benefits of limited government. In the 1980s, John joined the Illinois Libertarian Party and served on its State Central Committee. Later in the 90s, he transitioned to the Republican Party, and became active in the Steve Forbes for President Campaign and flat taxes.

In 2005, he was recruited to become the Executive Director of the Illinois Republican Party where he graduated from the Republican National Committee’s Campaign College, the RNC’s Field Management School, and the Leadership Institute’s activist training.

Additionally, John has served as President of the Sam Adams Alliance and Team Sam where he did issue education and advocacy work in over 10 states, with a focus on the web.

John also founded or helped start the following educational not-for-profits: Think Freely Media, the Haym Salomon Center – where he served as Chairman, the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity and Midwest Speaking Professionals.

A native of Chicago, John now lives in Las Vegas with his wife of more than 40 years.