Of This And That, Thoughts On A Stormy Morning

by Johnny Gunn

It's Time To Go To Work

We've heard the governor's budget proposals and we're just now beginning to hear the rumbling of the debate as legislators pour into the capital. Republican Governor Kenny Guinn is now officially a lame duck, he is faced with an Assembly overwhelmingly Democratic, a Senate that is grimly Republican, and economic forces over which he has less than a controlling seat.

In other words, this could prove to be an exciting session in Carson City. In recent sessions, budget proposals have taken a back seat to some rather mundane issues, and then, when total panic sets in, they madly attempt to pass a budget that actually means something to Silver State residents. There seems to be somewhat of a movement in Carson City this session to actually get down to business.

Education, a surplus of money in the coffers, property taxes going through the roof, and run-away election law violations all need serious discussion, debate not pork barrel, and not in a time constrained atmosphere.

This One Is For You, Dean Heller

Speaking of Election Law Violations ... Thanks to Dennis Myers for this little tidbit. In 1901, the Nevada Legislature got down to business on January 21, and as they began to poll the membership they found that Secretary of State Eugene Howell had certified six assembly members and one senator from Storey County.

The county was entitled to just four assembly members and already had its one senator.

Civics Class 101 --- Nobody Home

We have decried so many times in these pages the lack of civics instruction given to today's school children, and it appears the problem is coming home to roost. In a report issued by the First Amendment Center, a non-profit group dedicated to promoting First Amendment rights, high school students don't understand the Bill of Rights in the first place, and worse, don't care to.

According to a poll of well over 100,000 high school students, more than one third think newspapers should not be allowed to publish with government approval. They seem to not understand the value in the right to peaceful assembly, the right to petition (after this year's election?), or the right to religious freedom. The concept of the separation of church and state has been lost somewhere according to those who did the polling.

Go to FirstAmendmentCenter.com for a complete look at their poll. More than 500 schools nationwide took part in the survey.

These people will all be of voting age in the next few years, and those conducting to survey say that as a group, these people have the least concept of how our government works than any group recently polled.

New Judges Take The Bench

Two Reno attorneys and one from Clark County have assumed the duties of District Judge following appointment by Governor Kenny Guinn.

Robert Perry of Reno will fill the Second Judicial District Court seat formerly held by James Hardesty who now sits on the Supreme Court. Perry is 62.

David Hardy of Reno will sit as Family Court Judge taking the place of retiring Judge Charles McGee. Hardy is 41.

Clark County attorney Douglas Herndon will take the bench in the Eighth Judicial District, replacing Ron Parraguirre who was elected to the Supreme Court. Herndon is also 41.

Congratulations to all.