Legislative Democrats threw their ATM under the bus in the 2017 Nevada legislative session. Republicans got $20 million for private/religious school vouchers. Senate Minority Leader Bulldog Roberson, R-Gomorrah South, has publicly bragged about the success of GOP immigrant bashing.
Democratic leaders chirp about victories but mutter a “there-there” pat on the head to workers who got less than nothing. Not only is the drain hose firmly in the public school bucket, but all the anti-labor “reforms” of the 2015 Republican-controlled ledge remain.
Hardest hit: Public employees still working for 2007 pay and construction workers. The 2008 depression caused many to permanently leave the trades. Their ranks remain thin while wages and benefits have been permanently cut because they were used as pawns, traded away in the eleventh hour of the last night of the session.
Adding insult to injury, Gov. Veto El Obtúsè made sure minimum wage workers remain stuck at 1950’s rates, adjusted for inflation.
Democrats will face primary challenges and perhaps an alternative party from their shattered union ATM.
HIT AND RUN. A guy was walking his young German shepherd at 9th Street and N. Virginia near UNR at dusk Saturday. The dog sniffed his way over the curb and a driver swerved to hit him. His death yowl was heard a block away. Reno police are investigating. If you know something, call them or secret witness, 775-322-4900.
HIT MEN. Post-mortems of Hillary 2016 reveal a new culprit. Actually, an old one: former Sparks schoolboy Karl Rove.
After Rove smeared Dubya back into office in 2004, less-talented consultants emulated his method of slicing and dicing every U.S. precinct into well-researched targets which could be hit with customized messages telling people what they wanted to hear (kinda like Trump).
UNDER THE BUS, PART DEUX. Clinton’s Brooklyn computer controllers ordered busloads of Iowa union members to turn around as a “diversion” in a state Trump was going to win easily. They were on their way to Michigan where they knew Clinton was in trouble but viable. Brooklyn countermanded because their algorithms showed Hillary with a comfortable(?!) five-point lead in the Motown state.
The consultants hoped Trump would waste time in Iowa. He went to both states just before the election anyway and won both.
LIKE PLAYBOY, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE PICTURES. This Thursday thru Sunday, my friends at Reno’s Grassroots Books on Grove Street offer 10,000 mint-condition items in Spanish.
The selection includes a panorama of titles on photography and architecture, for instance, where you need only open them to be amused and occasionally amazed. Each page of a coffee table-sized illustrated history of Julius Caesar is on heavy cardstock with art worthy of a medieval parchment Bible. Kid stuff and comics, too, all from a quarter to 99 cents. Fill a bolsa (that means bag) from the 10,000 for $4.99.
However, if you’re into Clive Cussler thrillers, best be fluent in Español.
If you’re like me, you should not be allowed in that store without adult supervision. I always go in for one and walk out with five or six.
Be well. Raise hell. / Esté bien. Haga infierno.
Andrew Barbano is a 48-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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