Advisory Board: Governor Kenny Guinn, Chairman; U. S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign, Vice Chairmen; U. S. Representatives James Gibbons and Shelley Berkley, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Executive Directors.
U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao
Chairperson
Dr. Tony T. Lei
President
District Judges Mark Denton and Valorie Vega
Vice Presidents
Dr. William N. Thompson
Director of Public Administration Institution
Dr. E. Lee Bernick and Dr. G. Keong Leong
Deans of Graduate School of Business and Public Administration
Dr. Sue Fawn Chung
Director of Culture Institution
Justice of the Supreme Court William Maupin, Attorney General Brian Sandoval, and District Judge Stewart Bell, Honorary Chairmen of Clark Count District Attorney and Police Civil Commission (CCDAPCC)
District Attorney David Roger and Clark County Sheriff Bill Young
Chairmen of CCDAPCC
(702) 255-9058

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The WHIP Round Up from U. S. Senator Harry Reid
GSBPA, WBTI

The following message from the Office of U. S. Senator Harry Reid in Washington D. C. was received by Dr. Tony Lei at 3:37 p.m. on January 23, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada.*1
--------------------------------
"Reid for Nevada"
Reid Secures Millions to Improve Health Care and Education

Using his seniority on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Harry Reid worked to improve health care and education in Nevada by funding important projects including: $1 million for the Nevada Cancer Institute for construction of a comprehensive cancer center; $1 million for the UNLV School of Dental Medicine to purchase equipment for its clinic; $500,000 for a new health sciences building at the Community College of Southern Nevada; and $1 million for the UNR School of Medicine.

"Reid Works to Boost Nevada's Economy, Homeland Security"
In the Appropriations bill that passed Congress this week, Reid also worked to include $4.3 million for projects that will create jobs and boost the economy, and $3 million to bolster law enforcement and public safety.

'Working with Nevadans'
Members of the Nevada Statewide Coalition Partnership, who were in Washington D.C. with the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, attended the Welcome to Washington breakfast hosted by Senator Reid and Senator John Ensign.

Presidential Classroom Students Sarah White of Fallon, Gina Luciano of Reno, Shigetatsu Miakashi of Mesquite, and Tommy Raffa of Reno visited Senator Reid.

Senator Reid also met with mayors from three Nevada cities who were in Washington for the U.S. Conference of Mayors: Mayor Ray Masayko of Carson City, Mayor Oscar Goodman of Las Vegas, and Mayor Tony Armstrong of Sparks.

Senator Reid and Carson City Mayor Masayko talk about traffic and transportation problems in the Silver State's capital. Mayor Masayko presented Senator Reid with a commemorative silver coin minted to help raise money for the VNT railroad.

***********************
"INSIDER'S CALENDAR"
The Senate will convene Monday, January 26, 2004, at 1 p.m. and resume consideration of H.R. 3108, the pension bill, under a unanimous consent agreement limiting amendments.

No roll call votes will occur on Monday. Any votes on amendments to the pensions bill will occur on Tuesday.

The Senate is expected to complete action on the pension bill next week, and is not expected to be in session on Thursday or Friday.

********************
"Week in Review"

OMNIBUS SPENDING BILL CLEARS - The $820 Billion Omnibus spending package cleared the Senate on Thursday by a vote of 65 to 28. The measure combined seven different fiscal year spending bills in one massive conference report. Democrats blocked a vote on the measure on Tuesday to protest three provisions that had previously been rejected by both the House and Senate. The provisions, inserted at the behest of the White House, substantially narrowed the class of employees eligible for overtime pay; allowed for greater consolidation in television and radio ownership; and delayed the requirement to have country of origin labeling on food products. Democratic leaders pledged to reverse each of these provisions in the coming weeks.

*********************
REID VIEWS SPEECH FROM UNDISCLOSED LOCATION- While the President delivered the State of the Union address on Tuesday, four members of Congress, including Senator Reid, were taken to undisclosed locations as part of enhanced security measures to ensure the continuity of the Congress in the event of a disaster. Senator Reid was joined by Senator Trent Lott and Congressmen Chris Cox and George Miller. The Members watched the President's address on television. It was the first time Senator Reid did not personally attend the State of the Union address since he was elected to the House 22 years ago.

************************
'Reid's Words'
"Instead of increasing Medicare payments to private insurance companies by $14 billion over the next decade, we should focus on providing better health care for all Nevadans by cutting costs, improving the quality of care, and expanding coverage." *2

http://reid.senate.gov Fax: (202) 228-2360 Phone: (202) 224 - 3542

-------------------------------------
References

*1. Office of Senator Harry Reid. 'Whip Round Up,' "Email to Dr. Tony Lei from the Office of U. S. Senator Harry Reid," [17:48:59 - 0500 (EST) p. m., January 23, 2004], Washington, D. C.: Office of Senator Harry Reid.
*2. Ibid.

Advisory Board: Governor Kenny Guinn, Chairman; U. S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign, Vice Chairmen; U. S. Representatives James Gibbons and Shelley Berkley, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Executive Directors.
U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao
Chairperson
Dr. Tony T. Lei
President
District Judges Mark Denton and Valorie Vega
Vice Presidents
Dr. William N. Thompson
Director of Public Administration Institution
Dr. E. Lee Bernick and Dr. G. Keong Leong
Deans of Graduate School of Business and Public Administration
Dr. Sue Fawn Chung
Director of Culture Institution
Justice of the Supreme Court William Maupin, Attorney General Brian Sandoval, and District Judge Stewart Bell, Honorary Chairmen of Clark Count District Attorney and Police Civil Commission (CCDAPCC)
District Attorney David Roger and Clark County Sheriff Bill Young
Chairmen of CCDAPCC
(702) 255-9058

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To a friend's house the road is never long
By Cheryl Moss and Tiffany Chang

It is about two years since the feature article entitled "Judge Kolkoski honors Dr. and Mrs . Tony Lei with reunion dinner," written by Tiffany Chang, was published by "Nevada Examiner." "We always think of our relatives and closed friends when it comes with the festival," is a famous idom in Chinese. A sample of this spirit may be revealled in the letters from Harry, Archie, among others to Dr. and Mrs. Tony Lei.

"Dear Brother Tony and Judy:

Happy Chinese New Year. People are crazy about this Chinese tradition, the new year. This also makes me to recall those bygone days when I was a child. With a mixed feelings, I happy and sad in these days.

We shall be back to the States next month. Until then, let's keep close contact. HNY again. With best regards," wrote Archibald Chang on the day of Lunar New Year.*1 Archie was many years an achieved Chief Specialist of the U. S. Department of Education in San Francisco, California with Doctorate Degree in Education. He is now the President of Xiamen Straits Foreign Language College. Tony and Archie were classmates in Junior middle school.

We are also pleased to reprint the above article by the Newspaper*2:

The Summerlin of Las Vegas has been elected as the First Place in among 12 ranking communities nationally of United States the ideal and best selling homes for big builders in 2000 again. South Shores is one of the important district of Summerlin together with Desert Shores and Sun City. The beautiful lakes centered in this area are one of the greatest attractiveness of Las Vegas for millions of visitors all around the world. People would enjoy dreamly the sun rising and sun setting of the calm, clean, and nice scenes of these artificial and great work on the lilltle bridges. These bridges are built above the golden and beautiful waves of the lakes which are surounded by elegant residences. People love Summerlin. People love this Las Vegas' mighty fine! Dr. Tony Lei has been re-elected as a Director of South Shores Community Association with the highest poll by voters in last December.

Judge Betsy Kolkoski of Las Vegas Minicipal Court invited Dr. and Mrs. Tony Lei with a reunion dinner at Village Pub and Casino in Summerlin on February 28, 2001. Accompanied by her husband to the dinner, the Judge was bright and pleasent. In 1971, Judge Kolkoski graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Law with Juris Doctorate degree. As Nevada's Elder Rights Atnorney, an Associate Fellow of the Culture Institution (CI) and Chairperson of the Aging Services Study Committee (ASSC) of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI), she advocated statewide for the legal rights of senior and elder abuse prevention. Her research projects and papers presented together with Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa to the national conferences were publicized by WBTI locally and internationally. CI has been led by Dr. Sue Fawn Chung as its Director and Fellow. She is a professor of History at UNLV. Dr. Chung has been also named recently one of the two Nevada advisors to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

With honor as the Assistant Democratic Leader of U. S. Senate, Senator Harry Reid wrote Dr. and Mrs. Tony Lei on January 11, 2001 from his office in Washington, D. C. : "The holiday season is a time for remembering the good things that have happened during the year, for reflecting on the many blessings of our lives, and for renewing the bonds of love and friendship that make our lives special."

The famous political leader from Nevada continued his literary and intimate writing that, "This year has been eventful for the Reid family. Our first child, Lana, and our three grandchildren live in the Washington area. Roary and three more of our grandchildren live in Las Vegas. Leif is in Reno with two more grandchildren and have just told us another is on the way.

Josh just passed the bar, is living in Reno and also has announced our new daughter-in-law is expecting. Finally, our youngest, Key, lives in the Washington DC area with our newest grandchild. So, as you can see, we have the pleasure of grandchildren in each of our frequent stops, Las Vegas, Reno and Washington."

The Bible says: "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?" (Matthew 6:26) Take what the Senator says to Dr. Lei in his letter that, "On behalf of Landra and our family, I want to thank you thinking of us during this holiday season. Each holiday greeting reminds us that we are truly fortunate to have so many friends and loved ones with whom to share this special time." And if a humble individual like Dr. Lei may be treated so friendly by our Senator Reid, obviously everyone of us in Nevada would be taken care by his extended kindness. And this be our mode: "In God is our trust!"

His love to his family and his friends revealled his dignified and humane spirit through his words in the letter. For a great and powerful person like him to have such a beautiful and kind heart is really the glory of God. "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves," says the Bible. (Romans 12:9-10) At the end of the letter, the famous U.S. Senator says that, "The Reid family has been richly blessed and we look forward to the years ahead. I hope that the season brings happiness and good fortune to you and your loved ones. With warmest regards." *3

-----------------------------------
References

*1. Chang, Archibald. 'Happy Chinese New Year!' "An Email to Dr. and Mrs. Tony Lei," (January 21, 2004), Xiamen, Fuchien: Xiamen Straits Foreign Language College.
*2. Chang, Tiffany. 'Judge Kolkoski honors Dr. and Mrs. Tony Lei with reunion dinner,' "(March, 2001), "Nevada Examiner," Las Vegas, Nevada: Nevada Examiner.
*3. Ibid.

Advisory Board: Governor Kenny Guinn, Chairman; U. S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign, Vice Chairmen; U. S. Representatives James Gibbons and Shelley Berkley, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Executive Directors.
U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao
Chairperson
Dr. Tony T. Lei
President
District Judges Mark Denton and Valorie Vega
Vice Presidents
Dr. William N. Thompson
Director of Public Administration Institution
Dr. E. Lee Bernick and Dr. G. Keong Leong
Deans of Graduate School of Business and Public Administration
Dr. Sue Fawn Chung
Director of Culture Institution
Justice of the Supreme Court William Maupin, Attorney General Brian Sandoval, and District Judge Stewart Bell, Honorary Chairmen of Clark Count District Attorney and Police Civil Commission (CCDAPCC)
District Attorney David Roger and Clark County Sheriff Bill Young
Chairmen of CCDAPCC
(702) 255-9058

I am sure that few of you were surprised when it was announced last week that Nevada retained its position as the nation's fastest growing state. This marks the 17th time in a row that our state has led the nation in annual population growth. Since I took office in 1999, the state's population has increased by nearly half a million residents. In the last year alone, more than 90,000 people moved here, bringing our population to almost 2.3 million.*2

This tremendous influx of new residents has presented obvious challenges to my on-going efforts to keep expenses down while continuing to provide needed services for our citizens. As most of you know, state employees' payroll and related employment costs constitute one of the largest general fund expenditures. Because of this, I closely monitor the number of people serving in state government to ensure our new residents do not increase the costs of state government to a level that is unacceptable.

When I first took office, state government employed 8.0 state workers per 1,000 residents. Serious efforts have been made to reduce this ratio. I have worked to manage state government better and have, quite frankly, asked our state employees to work harder and do more. The number of state workers will decrease to 6.5 per capita during the approved State Budget of 2004-2005.

During my first term, a hiring freeze kept 1,500 positions vacant, agencies were only allowed to fill their most important positions. In 2002, I continued the hiring freeze, allowing only public safety and related positions to be filled. Further, in the Executive Budget presented to the 2003 Legislature, I recommended and was successful in permanently eliminating nearly 500 of the previously frozen general fund positions from our state roles. The reduction in our workforce ratio would have been even greater had the legislature not approved more than 800 new positions, since 1999, that I did not recommend. Our hard work over the last five years has achieved marked results. We have been able to effect these reductions in personnel as part of my flat budget process and by implementing or utilizing technological improvements.

Recently, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that Nevada ranks 49th in the nation for the number of public employees per capita: Nevada has 464 public employees per 10,000 residents. The comparative averages for surrounding states are: Arizona, 507; California, 524; Idaho, 598; Oregon, 536; and Utah, 552. As your Governor, I am proud that we have been able to keep our state government small yet responsive to the basic needs of our citizens.

I hope this helps you to understand the effort this administration has made to keep payroll and other employment related expenses down while serving the nation's fastest growing state. The next time you see one of our hardworking men or women patrolling a highway, repairing a bridge, registering your car, or protecting our parks and natural environment, please join me in saying "thank you" for a job well done.*3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
References

*1. Kenny Guinn is the Governor of Nevada, U. S. A.
*2. Office of the Governor. 'A Message from Governor Kenny Guinn,' "Email to Dr. Tony Lei," (January 21, 2004), Office of the Governor: Carson, Nevada.
*3. Ibid.