2008 Nevada State Initiatives – Decline to Sign & Protect Public Services!
JUST SAY NO TO INITIATIVES THAT HURT NEVADA PUBILC SERVICES!
Like many states, Nevada has an initiative system where local citizens or interest groups can place measures on a statewide ballot. SEIU Nevada and our allies have used this system to make important improvements for our community, like raising the minimum wage to help more working families.
In the past few years, anti-worker forces have tried to use the initiative system to destroy the ability of local governments to provide the services residents need – like schools, police, firefighters, parks and . . . public service workers like us!
These initiatives often sound like they will create important reforms. For example, who wouldn’t want:
• Lower taxes!
• Better Schools!
• Reduced local corruption!
• Campaign finance reforms!
The problem is that while these initiatives sound good, they will hurt Nevada residents. And while SEIU Nevada members have always understood the importance of protecting strong local public services, we need to help our coworkers and family members understand these initiatives too.
We’ve done it before – we can do it again!
In 2004, SEIU Nevada members waged a tough campaign with other concerned citizens and labor unions across the state to defeat the property tax cap that would have capped property taxes – and taken hundreds of millions of dollars away from local schools, police and fire departments and county general funds.
In 2006, we made sure to stop the property tax cap before it even made it to the ballot. We took their initiative to court, and proved that they had actually committed fraud by forging signatures on their petitions.
Right now, the same folks - like anti-worker, Venetian-owner Sheldon Adelson, Sharron Angle, Grover Norquist and his Americans for Prosperity - who brought you the 2004 and 2006 property tax capsand who are fighting to silence the voice of workers all across the nation, are back with new initiatives. They have hired signature-gatherers to stand in front of our grocery stores – and even come to our worksites to get their destructive initiatives on the ballot.
What can you do to help?
1. Decline to Sign! It’s easy! The best thing you can do is refuse to sign any petition – and make sure your friends and family know not to sign either!
2. Join our “Fraud Squad!” They cheated and forged signatures to get past measures on the ballot before, and we think they’ll do it again. Volunteer just an hour or two to help find out what kind of sneaky tricks they’re up to now!
3. Contribute to COPE! Why is it important to have the money and volunteers to stop the initiatives now? We need to stop these initiatives from ever reaching the ballot – which will be a much more expensive and difficult fight.
So, what are these initiatives? TURN THE PAGE TO SEE!
JUST SAY NO TO INITIATIVES THAT HURT NEVADA PUBILC SERVICES!
Locking In Underfunding for Nevada’s Public Services (aka Nevada Taxpayers Protection Act)
Brought to you by anti-union and anti-government Sheldon Adelson, also owner of the non-union Venetian, this initiative would require any initiative seeking to raise revenue for Nevada’s cash strapped public services to pass by a two-thirds margin.
What does this mean? Revenue increases already face a two-thirds requirement in our State Assembly and Senate. Now, voters would face a daunting task to take matters in their own hands and decide that we deserve enough teachers, cops and other vital services.
Shut Down Our Public Convention Center #1 & #2 (aka the Education Enhancement Act and Funding Nevada’s Priorities Act)
Also brought to you by Sheldon Adelson, these initiatives would take away Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority funding and give it to the State’s general fund, as well as schools, public safety and highways.
What does this mean? Yes, funding schools, public safety and highways is important, but so is the role of the LVCVA in bringing in the tourists who help drive our economy. But why do you think Sheldon Adelson REALLY wants to redirect funding from the agency responsible for running our public convention center? Sheldon Adelson wouldn’t be interested in decreasing competition for his own convention center, now would he?
Education is our ONLY Priority (aka Save our Schools with Additional Funding)
This initiative would increase gaming taxes and direct the dollars towards teachers’ salaries and “student achievement.”
What does this mean? Our schools are in bad shape and desperately in need of additional funding. But so are almost ALL of Nevada’s public services. We shouldn’t create a constitutional amendment that puts a fence around money for schools – we need a comprehensive solution to funding ALL of Nevada’s public service priorities.
Bankrupt Our Counties, Schools and Police & Fire Departments
(aka Property Tax Reform)
The latest property tax initiative from Sharron Angle would cap property taxes at just 2 percent – based on the value of the property in 2003-2004.
What does this mean? Less money for local governments, schools and public safety agencies that are already strapped for cash and struggling to provide quality public services for Nevadans. Do you think we need even fewer teachers, cops and health inspectors?