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Governor Gibbons Outraged Nevada Left Out Of
High Speed Rail Funding
Governor Gibbons: “Reid And Obama
Have Insulted Nevadans Again.”
January 28, 2010 – Carson City, NV – As if encouraging businesses and government agencies to stay away from Las Vegas is not bad enough, now President Obama has left Nevada out of a new multi-billion dollar high-speed rail jobs program. Thirty-one (31) states are included in the newly announced 8-billion dollar stimulus rail transportation plan, but Nevada is not one of them.
“It looks like Senator Reid was asleep at the switch again, “Governor Gibbons said, “Once again Reid pays no attention to the needs of Nevada families and President Obama simply ignores the fact that we have the second highest unemployment rate in the country.” Governor Gibbons has worked tirelessly to bring new industry and jobs to Nevada. “Nevada already has a high speed magnetic levitation train (MAGLEV) plan in place,” Governor Gibbons said, “It is disgusting and disgraceful that Reid and Obama ignored our efforts.”
Gibbons also noted that this high speed rail funding comes from stimulus funds, meant to create jobs and stimulate the economy. “Senator Reid’s weak efforts to help Nevada have already put us in 50th place in per capita stimulus fund rankings, this is just another slap in the face to working families and to families suffering through the misery of unemployment,” Governor Gibbons said, “I am surprised Reid calls Nevada his home state when he uses his position to insult every citizen of Nevada.” Gibbons added, “Every Nevadan, especially unemployed construction workers, should be livid with Senator Reid.”
Senator Reid has already blocked 45 million dollars in federal funds earmarked specifically for work on a MAGLEV train between Las Vegas and Primm, Nevada. That funding is included in a federal law passed in 2005. A UNLV study suggested that segment of MAGLEV would create up to 13,000 new skilled jobs. Ignoring the law, Reid has used his influence with the U.S. Transportation Department and the Federal Railway Administration to block those funds from coming to Nevada and he is preventing the creation of 13,000 new jobs.
Senator Reid and President Obama are proudly giving millions of dollars under this high-speed rail funding to tourist destination cities like Orlando, Florida and Anaheim, California, but Las Vegas and Reno are ignored. Even Eugene, Oregon and Ottumwa, Iowa are receiving funds from this stimulus program.
Governor Gibbons plans to contact Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood to see if Nevada can be added to the list of 31 other states receiving these high speed rail stimulus dollars. It remains to be seen if Senator Reid will block that effort as well.
Nevada Medicaid Spending Unsustainable
January 27, 2010 – Carson City, NV – After a review of the state’s Medicaid spending patterns, the populations served by the program and, thankfully, the apparent demise of the federal health care reform legislation, Governor Jim Gibbons announced today that he does not believe now is an appropriate time to opt out of Medicaid.
At the same time, however, the Governor encouraged Legislators and the state’s Congressional delegation to consider the fact that Nevada simply cannot afford to continue increasing its Medicaid spending at the current rate of growth.
“The average growth in General Fund Medicaid spending over the past decade is close to 10 percent,” the Governor said, “Our ever-growing Medicaid burden undercuts our ability to fund other state responsibilities and is crowding out education, public safety and infrastructure as components of our budget.”
The prime driver of Nevada’s Medicaid spending growth is caseload. While an average of 96,000 Nevadans per month received Medicaid in Fiscal Year 2000, that number jumped almost 250 percent to 238,891 Nevadans receiving Medicaid in December 2009.
In addition to the state’s existing budget shortfall and exploding Medicaid caseload growth, it is clear that the federal government’s plan to change health care in our country would drive more people into state Medicaid and significantly increasing the states’ health care costs.
The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services projected the initial, six-year cost of Sen. Harry Reid’s health care reform bill at $613 million in state General Funds. That would have included driving nearly 100,000 additional Nevadans onto Medicaid.
“Because it appears Sen. Reid’s plan is no longer viable, this crushing additional cost to the state isn’t forcing us to seriously consider opting out of Medicaid at this time,” the Governor said. “However, if Congress wants to pass the buck and shift the fiscal burden of health care reform directly onto the states instead of looking seriously at ways to reduce spending and costs, we will be forced to revisit the issue.” The 2009 Legislature budgeted $986.9 million in state General Funds for Medicaid expenditures during the current biennium. Nevada’s Medicaid program has a total budget for the biennium, including federal and local spending, of just over $3 billion.
Governor Will Deliver State Of The State Message
Will discuss Nevada’s budget crisis and call for special legislative session
January 25, 2010 – Carson City, NV – Governor Jim Gibbons today announced he will deliver a special State of the State message on Monday February 8, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. Governor Gibbons will discuss Nevada’s budget crisis and will call for a special session of the Nevada Legislature as a result of the extraordinary crisis. “Nevada citizens are suffering because of higher taxes and the sluggish economy,” Governor Gibbons said, “Citizens deserve to be informed and be a part of the solution to the problems our State is facing.”
Meetings and discussions are being held to determine what legislation will be considered during the special session. Everything from reduced operating hours at certain government agencies, to education reform, to creating new revenue from waste recycling programs, and more are being considered. Pursuant to the Constitution, the Governor determines what issues the legislature can consider during a special session.
Governor Gibbons has been holding regular meetings with legislators to share ideas with them to help the state and Nevada citizens during these unprecedented economic times. “Just like families all across Nevada suffering to make ends meet, state government must live within its means,” Governor Gibbons said, “It is irresponsible to spend money we don’t have, the state simply must reduce spending.” Governor Gibbons added that, “The time for legislative hearings and other delays has long since past, it is time for decisive action and that is what I plan to do.”
Governor Gibbons also pledged to face Nevada’s economic troubles head-on. “I have never surrendered and I have never been a quitter,” Gibbons said, “These challenges are not going away, we must deal with them for the good of every Nevada citizen.”
Governor Orders Nevada Guard To Assist Arizona
January 24, 2010 – Carson City, NV – Governor Jim Gibbons has ordered the Nevada National Guard to assist emergency management officials in Arizona. Arizona officials, through the Nevada Department of Public Safety-Division of Emergency Management, have requested air support as a result of flooding around the area of Flagstaff, Arizona.
The Nevada Army National Guard will deploy three aircraft, one Chinook helicopter and two Blackhawk helicopters, from their facility at Stead, Nevada to the Flagstaff area as soon as weather in Northern Nevada permits.
Several hundred people have been evacuated from small towns in northern Arizona due to heavy rains and flooding. Approximately 1000 people living in remote areas on a Navajo Indian Reservation near Flagstaff have been isolated by rain and snow. Very heavy rain and snow have fallen in the Flagstaff area during the last week.
Governor Gibbons has pledged additional assets to assist Arizona, if the need arises.
Governor Gibbons Has Made The Following Appointments To Boards And Commissions:
January 22, 2010 – Carson City, NV
| Nevada State Contractors Board |
STEVE QUINN |
| Nevada State Contractors Board |
DONALD DRAKE |
| Dental Examiners Board |
DR. JADE MILLER |
| Dental Examiners Board |
DR. JAMES SILL |
| Nevada Tax Commission |
JOHN MARVEL |
| Nevada Tax Commission |
ROBERT JOHNSON |
| CA-NV Super Speed Ground Transportation |
LARRY BROWN |
| Nevada State Board Of Pharmacy |
KIRK WENTWORTH, RPh |
| Dental Examiners Board |
LISA WARK |
| CA-NV Super Speed Ground Transportation |
SENATOR DAVID PARKS |
| Board Of Agriculture |
DAVID STIX, Jr. |
| Nevada Commission On Judicial Selection |
DONNA COLEMAN |
| Nevada State Board Of Medical Examiners |
VALERIE CLARK |
| Nevada Judicial Discipline Commission |
SARAH ZOLA |
| CA-NV Super Speed Ground Transportation |
COUNCILMAN RICKI BARLOW |
| Nevada Homeland Security Commission |
TROY WADE |
| Nevada Juvenile Justice Commission |
DANNY GONZALES |
| Nevada Commission On Nuclear Projects |
COMMISSIONER LARRY BROWN |
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