April '10 Nevada Government—U.S. Congresswoman Dina Titus Column

Titus Celebrates the 40th Annual Earth Day

April 22, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District released the following statement today in recognition of the 40th annual Earth Day.

“As we celebrate 40 years of Earth Day we do so at a critical time for our environment and our economy. While we work to pull our nation out of the deepest recession in a generation and preserve the air we breathe and the water we drink, renewable energy provides the promise of both a cleaner world and a stronger economy.

“As one of the sunniest states in the country, Nevada has the potential to be the leader in a new clean energy economy that will create jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and improve our environment. That is why I have supported efforts to invest in the technology that will expand use of our renewable resources, such as solar, wind, and geothermal. For example, the Recovery Act Congress passed last year has provided Nevada with:

$23.5 million for energy efficiency projects and conservation grants;

$72 million for weatherization funding;

$2.5 million for rebates on ENERGY STAR appliances; and

$138 million for smart grid technologies.

“The U.S. has always been a global leader when it comes to innovation. As we celebrate Earth Day, now is the time to recommit to the creation of technologies that will power our economy and propel us forward as the world leader in clean energy.”

Titus Testimony on Red Rock at
Clark County Commission Meeting

April 21, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District testified today during a Clark County Commission meeting on Red Rock Canyon. Below are her remarks as prepared.

“Thank you for the opportunity to comment this morning. As the sponsor of SB 358 I have a keen interest in ensuring that Red Rock Canyon remains protected from encroaching development. I worked closely with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and with local community members and advocacy groups on SB 358, which passed the Nevada State Legislature in 2003 with unanimous bipartisan support. It was one of the proudest moments of my twenty years in the Nevada State Senate.

“As Nevadans, we are truly blessed to have Red Rock Canyon right in our back yard—just 17 miles away from the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip. Red Rock Canyon is a very special place. From camping and hiking to horseback riding and rock climbing, Red Rock Canyon offers countless recreational opportunities for Nevadans and for others from around the country and the globe. The wildlife that call Red Rock home, including 100 different species of birds, the desert tortoise, and of course, the burro, along with the wide variety of desert plant life you’ll find here make Red Rock a wonderful example of the Mojave Desert. And the cultural resources at Red Rock, like rock art and roasting pits, allow us to look back thousands of years to gain an understanding of what early life in the desert must have been like. Over one million visitors come to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area each year, making it a wonderful addition to our tourism industry here in Southern Nevada. Red Rock Canyon is truly the crown jewel of the desert southwest.

“Let me begin by clearing up some serious misinformation that is going around and even appeared in an article in yesterday’s Review Journal. First, the Nevada Supreme Court has not ruled on this issue. It was a federal district judge who ruled that SB 358 violated Nevada’s State Constitution. Second, that ruling had nothing to do with any letter I wrote. The ruling was based neither on a takings nor equal protection argument, but rather on Article 4, Sections 20, 21, and 25 of the Nevada Constitution, which prohibit regulation of county business; state that general laws must have uniform application; and hold that the legislature will establish a uniform system of county government throughout the state. That decision is currently being appealed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, where it could be reversed or certified to the Nevada Supreme Court.

“The county’s overlay ordinance, on the other hand, is being challenged on separate federal constitutional claims. If no settlement is reached between the county and the developer, that case will begin in federal district court in May.

“Let me be clear—I do not believe the county should settle with Gypsum Resources. It is my view that we cannot afford to allow this area to be more densely developed, even if the proposed settlement decreases the overall size of the area available for development. I realize the financial pressure on the county to settle this case, however, and to approve the ordinance to amend the Red Rock Overlay. If the Clark County Board of Commissioners decides it is in its best interest to settle, I believe strongly that the settlement agreement must be conditioned on the result of the State’s appeal. The settlement should make clear that no actual land development can occur until the state’s appeal is resolved. It should further provide that the developer has no particular rights while the appeal is pending, even if the county approves the developer’s major project application during that period.

“I hope that you will take these suggestions under consideration as you decide whether to approve the ordinance to amend the Red Rock Overlay. The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a unique place that should be protected for generations to come. By modifying the settlement agreement so that it is conditioned on the state’s appeal, you will ensure that development does not occur until after the state has had its appeal resolved. You cannot undo land development—once it’s done, it’s done. Conditioning the settlement on the results of the state’s appeal is common sense and will ensure that development is not begun, prematurely causing irreparable damage.

“Thank you again for allowing me the opportunity to comment.”

Titus Remarks on the Need to Reform Wall Street

April 21, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District spoke on the House floor this morning on the importance of reforming Wall Street. Below are her remarks as delivered. Click here to watch Titus’ speech.

“Two years ago, our nation suffered one of the greatest economic meltdowns in history when the financial markets nearly collapsed and sent the country into the deepest recession in a generation—one that my state of Nevada is still working to pull itself out of.

“The hard-working people of Southern Nevada have paid a steep price for the greed and dangerous underregulation of Wall Street that created a foreclosure crisis resulting in far too many families losing their homes. Seniors lost their retirement nest eggs and parents lost their savings to pay for their children to go to college.

“It is time to ensure that the proper regulation and safeguards are in place so that we can prevent a crisis of this magnitude in the future. We must reign in Wall Street banks that gave their executives obscene bonuses while steering our economy into a ditch. We must close regulatory loopholes and strengthen oversight enforcement so that government agencies cannot fall asleep at the wheel. The House has already passed this important legislation that will permanently end taxpayer bailouts and hold Wall Street accountable. I urge the Senate to do so.”

Titus: More Than 30,000 Nevada Businesses to Be Notified of Health Care Tax Credits

April 20, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District highlighted an effort by the IRS to reach out to more than four million small businesses and tax-exempt organizations nationwide to make them aware of the new tax credits they are eligible for as part of the health care reform enacted into law last month. In Nevada, 30,345 small businesses will receive the IRS postcard.

“Sky rocketing health care costs have taken a toll on Nevada’s small businesses, making it harder for them to compete and succeed,” Congresswoman Titus said. “The health care reform passed into law will ease the burden our small businesses face by providing them with important tax credits that lower the cost of health insurance. It is critical that all of Nevada’s small businesses that qualify for these tax credits take advantage of them, and this effort by the IRS will help ensure they have the information they need.”

The small business tax credit is one of the first provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to go into effect. It is designed to encourage small employers to offer health insurance coverage for the first time or maintain coverage they already have.

The tax credit is available to companies with 25 or fewer full-time employees and an average wage of $50,000 or less. Companies with 10 or fewer full-time employees and an average wage of $25,000 or less qualify for the maximum credit—which is equal to 35 percent of what the employer is paying for insurance coverage. The maximum credit rises to 50 percent in 2014. The eligibility is determined based on the number of “full-time equivalent” employees, so businesses that hire part-time employees may qualify even if they employ more than 25 people.

Small businesses can claim the credit as part of the general business credit starting with the 2010 income tax return they file in 2011. For more information on the tax credit, click here.