IRA THE TAXER? Corporate welfare was one of the few areas wherein Ira Hansen and I consistently agreed back when he was a Tribune regular.
Assemblymember Hansen, R-Sparks, did two segments on the Nevada Newsmakers TV show last week.
Ira talked about mining and gambling, their measly rates of taxation and the social problems gambling causes, paying both low wages and low taxes while fostering a transitory community environment.
The arguably most conservative lawmaker of recent times thus stands in total agreement with the most liberal, former Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas. Ira could have been reading from Neal’s playbook.
Reno Gazette-Journal reporter Ray Hagar blew the opportunity to ask the key question begged by Ira’s comments: “Assemblyman, do you thus favor an increase in the gross gaming tax?”
OK, Ira: Do you?
The Tribune will happily publish your response.
WE’RE NUMBER ONE! With the exception of a few California tribal casinos that voluntarily cut deals with the state while fearing the coming of Gov. Schwarzenegger, Nevada’s major enterprises continue to pay the lowest gross gaming taxes in the world.
PASTURE PORN. I always nuke e-mail with suggestive titles, but this one was too enticing to ignore: “Female Sale Videos, Catalog and Features Here.”
Zounds.
Perhaps another Nevada human trafficking and teen slavery scandal.
I opened it and was quickly confronted with photos of fully naked nubile females — some of the prettiest cows I’ve seen since Elsie, from a Nebraska auction yard.
I’m on some weird spam lists.
LIFE IMITATES ART. Another version of the script of “The West Wing” may again come true right here in River City. The final episodes of Aaron Sorkin’s highly honored 1999-2006 TV series had the nation’s first minority president, played by Latino hunk Jimmy Smits, appointing his vanquished Republican rival (Alan Alda) as secretary of state. Pretty close to Obama and Hillary.
The script depicted Smits elected by narrowly winning Nevada. That wasn’t the Obama pattern, but could well foreshadow 2016, which means the presidency gets decided in the bellwether swing county of the swinging state.
As Washoe goes, so goes the nation.
GOING IN STYLE. Lu Ann Zive passed away on Sept. 9 at 67. Her family is throwing a “memorial party” at the Silver Legacy from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30.
She was married to U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Gregg Zive for more than 40 years and was the sister-in-law of former Sparks City Councilman Phil Zive.
I knew hizzoner from his earlier days in private practice. He was never too busy to donate his time to whatever public service project that needed his advice. He was just honored for his four decades as a UNR sports official.
My condolences to the judge and his family. May the great lady rest in peace.
ADVICE FROM NAPOLEAN FOR DEMOCRATS: When your enemy is destroying himself, never interfere.
Be well. Raise hell. Esté bien. Haga infierno.
Andrew Barbano is a 46-year Nevadan and editor of NevadaLabor.com. E-mail <barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us>. Barbwire by Barbano has originated in the Tribune since 1988.
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