This week, Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Larry Craig (R-ID) introduced legislation that would be especially shortsighted and dangerous for Nevada if it ever had a chance of passing. The Nuclear Waste Access to Yucca Act (NU-WAY) is a last-ditch effort to try to salvage the dying Yucca Mountain project by gutting laws that protect our environment and public health. NU-WAY would permit the Department of Energy to begin shipping nuclear waste to Nevada before the proposed repository has even received a license. If this bill ever passed, it would force Nevada to serve as a temporary above-ground nuclear waste dump for decades. As Nevada抯 senior senator, I will leverage my position as the Senate Majority leader to ensure that this bill is dead on arrival.*2

We should not try to change federal law and lower our safety and health standards for Yucca ?we need a solution to nuclear waste that lives up to American standards.

-------------------
Solving the Nuclear Waste Problem

While nuclear energy powers 20 percent of our country, it creates thousands of tons of one of the most harmful substances known to man. Over two decades of work at Yucca Mountain show that it is not a solution for nuclear waste. The science behind Yucca is corrupted and riddled with politics. We need a real solution that does not attempt to defy scientific reality.

That is why I have worked with Senator Ensign to find a solution to this problem. Earlier this year, we introduced the Federal Accountability for Nuclear Waste Storage Act. Under our proposal, the DOE will take ownership of nuclear waste and store it safely at nuclear power plants where it is produced. The waste will be in secure dry casks, which have a long and proven record of safety. Nevadans will be assured that nuclear waste will never be stored at Yucca, and all Americans will be safer without spent nuclear fuel being shipped past communities home to 250 million people.

Dry cask storage is already here to stay. More than half of our nation抯 nuclear power plants already store nuclear waste in dry casks, and according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, it is safe for over one hundred years. Dry cask storage saves taxpayers money, is safe and secure, and gives us time to find a scientifically sound solution. Best of all, it allows us to achieve these goals without putting our nation at risk of nuclear terror on highways. It saves us from a potential public health catastrophe in Nevada .

Please rest assured that I am seeking a scientifically sound long-term solution to our nuclear waste problems. Let抯 take the focus away from the dead-end Yucca Mountain project, and find real solutions for America 抯 future.*3

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

*1. About U. S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: U. S. Senator Harry M. Reid is the Democratic Leader (the Majority Leader) in the U. S. Senate. He is a man who commands the respect of colleagues from both parties, and a powerful advocate for Nevada’s middle-class families.
But he still lives in Searchlight … and he is still guided by the lessons and values he learned there.
The Las Vegas Sun newspaper summarized Reid’s story by saying that he “has gone from underdog to Senate’s top dog.”
Parade Magazine, the nation’s largest weekly magazine, identified Senator Reid as one of a handful of leaders in Washington with “integrity and guts.”
Since Nevadans elected him to the Senate in 1986, Harry Reid has developed a reputation as a consensus builder and a skillful legislator. Even his Republican colleagues praise his reasoned, balanced approach.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) has said, “We all respect Senator Reid. He is one of the moderate voices around here who tries to get things to work.”
And former GOP Leader Trent Lott said, “Harry Reid is out there finding a solution. I enjoy working with him very much.”
He was elected to the Senate in 1986, and re-elected in 1992, 1998 and 2004. He has served as the chairman or senior Democratic member on several important committees and subcommittees.
Reid is a tireless worker, and it isn’t unusual for him to be the first Senator of either party to arrive at the Capitol in the morning and the last to go home at night.
*2. Reid, Harry. 'BREAKING NEWS on Yucca Mountain,' "An e-mail from U. S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's Office to Washington Business and Technology Institute," (May 25, 2007), Washington, D. C.: Senator Harry Reid's Office.
*3. Ibid.
Editor's note: The articles by Senator Harry Reid in this section have been published by the leading search engines as soon as they were posted. The following information have been just received from a search of "Restoring America's Competitive Advantage By Harry M. Reid", etc. on the Yahoo.com, Google.com, and among others at 9:07 a.m. in the morning on May 18, 2007:
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Harry Reid, U. S. Senator
Restoring America's Competitive Advantage. By Harry M. Reid*(1) ... Restoring America's Competitive Advantage,' "A search of 'Business ...communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=cge&... - 129k - Cached - More from this site
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Business ...
Restoring America's Competitive Advantage By Harry M. Reid", etc. that we posted ... Restoring America's Competitive Advantage. By Harry M. Reid*1 ...communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=cge&... - 111k - Cached - More from this site
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Harry Reid, U. S. Senator
... pleasure to accept the honor as Professor of Administrative Strategies ... could find what WBTI did the articles for Senator Harry Reid have been posted in ...communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=cge&... - 129k - Cached
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Past drafts, documents ...
By Dr. Harry Reid and PAI of WBTI*1 ... 1. Dr. Harry Reid is a Nevadan U. S. Senator and the Democratic Leader of U. S. Senate. ...communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/...&START_COUNT=16 - 187k - Cached

At 4:27 p.m. in May 12, or 9:37 a.m. in May 25, 2007 on the Yahoo.com:
For "U. S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, and Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid invite our friends to attend a Champagne Reception honoring Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto" (Posted on 050807.)
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Business ...
... attend a Champagne Reception honoring Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto ... Leader Harry Reid, U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar ...communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=cge&... - 109k - Cached

***** On Google.com at 9:47 a.m. in May 25, 2007 starting from its first line of the first page, by a search of 'U. S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid' the following information have been received:
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Tony Lei, President ...
Upon informing of its plan for her distinguished appointment from WBTI, ..... 'On U. S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid,' "A post card delivered at the ...
communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=page&GID=01101010550976144152582945&... - 125k - Cached - Similar pages
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Harry Reid, US Senator
Harry Reid, US Senator. http://communitylink.reviewjournal.com/lvrj/wbti ... WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada announced Wednesday ...
communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=page&GID=01101010550976144152582945&... - 128k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from communitylink.reviewjournal.com ]

The heights by great men/women reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in the night.

--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

--------------------------------------------
***** "A man finds joy in giving an apt reply --- and how good is a timely word!" --- Proverbs 15 : 23 of the Bible

Enthusiasm is important, especially very important to many things in our lives. We need to push our valuable vision through enthusiasm. Henry Moore said that, "There is nothing greater than enthusiasm." *1 To do good or great thing, we may not achieve it with the absence of enthusiasm.

We are glad to receive the nice e-mail from TEFA NEWS. The following information have been posted through request of Executive Director of TEFA Bridge I-yu Teng and the courtesy of www.tefa.thu.edu.tw:

TEFA NEWS 2007-05-22
Tunghai People on News
ChinaTimes reports on Dr. Hung-mao Tien

[[[ We did several trials. The charaters in Chinese of the reports and attachments again could not be read. We've to erase all the paragraphs that we've posted in this article. Interesting readers may go directly to the TEFA website. ]]] *2

Bridge I-yu Teng, Executive Director of TEFA of Tunghai University, has a vision and commitment:

Promoting Tunghai Fanily's Reunion by TEFA Blog

Connecting Tunghai Friends with www.tefa.thu.edu.tw *3

Challenging our work force can add to productivity, but productivity needs also cooperation. In a team work, harmony is very importnat. Sometime, a good leader is the one who leads us to a goal with a group performance in harmony.*4

We are pleased to quote the following five short but meaningful ones*5:

***** It is amazing how much people can get done if they do not worry about who gets the credit. ---Sandra Swinney
***** No man can be rich withot himself enriching others. ---Andrew Carnegie
***** I rate enthusiasm even above professional skill. ---Sir Edward Appleton
***** Enthusiam moves the world. ---J. Balfour
***** Ingenuity, plus courage, plus work, equals miracles. ---Bob Richards

As Bridge has inspired us for information, it's our pleasure to tell that U. S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, and Nevada Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid invite us and our friends to a Champagne Reception (by R.S.V.P.) at Bally's Hotel Skyview room on June 20, 2007 in Las Vegas.*6

Wish TEFA NEWS a great bridge and success to all the alumni and friends of Tunghai University!*7

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

*1. Glenn Van Ekeren, "Speaker's Source Book II," (Paramus, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Press, 1994,) 130.
*2. Teng, Bridge I-yu. 'May 22, 2007 Issue of TEFA NEWS,' "An e-mail from TEFA NEWS to WBTI," (May 21, 2007), Taichung, Taiwan: TEFA.
*3. Ibid. 2.
*4. Douglas, Michael; Weber, Valerie; Moss, Cheryl; and Chang, Tiffany. 'Brilliant, Google answers our people, community, and world!' "A serarch of 'Harry Reid, U. S. Senator wbti' on the Google.cn," (May 20, 2007), Mountain View, California: Google.cn.
*5. Glenn Van Ekeren, "The Speaker's Source Book," (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1988,) 112.
*6. Bill Maupin, Mark Denton, Michael Douglas, Steward Bell, Valorie Vega, John Ponticello, Cheryl Moss, Robert "Bobby G" Gronauer, and Tiffany Chang. 'U. S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, and Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid invite our friends to attend a Champagne Reception honoring Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto,' "A search of "Business WBTI'(in its page [1] of the section 'Bus. & Adm.' on the Google.com," (May 23, 2007), Mountain View, California: Google.com.
*7. Douglas, Michael; Weber, Valerie; Moss, Cheryl; and Chang, Tiffany. 'Brilliant, Yahoo answers our people, community, and world!' "A serarch of 'Tunghai University Alumni Association' on the AOL.com," (May 23, 2007), U. S. A.: AOL.com.

The following information has been just received by Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI) at 8:57 a.m. in the morning on May 23, 2007. It was immediately designed to post in this section for community service with the most quick preference of time through the Internet.

Carson City ?Governor Jim Gibbons is scheduled to make an announcement regarding the state budget today at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE:
Governor?s Office
Nevada State Capitol

DATE:
Today, May 23, 2007

TIME:

10:30 a.m. PDT

[From an e-mail by Office of the Governor to WBTI on May 23, 2007 (Wed, 23 May 2007 08:27:44 -0700.)]

***** The leaders who work most effectively, it seems to me, never say "I." And that's not because they have trained themselves not to say "I." They don't think "I." They think "we"; they think "team." They understand their job to be to make the team function. They accept responsibility and don't sidestep it, but "we" gets the credit. This is what creates trust, what enables you to get the task done. ---Peter F. Drucker

"Love that lasts involves a real and genuine concern for others as persons, for their values as they feel them, for their development and growth," said Evelyn Duvall.*1 In our real world, people are led by leaders. A successful leader is consistently follwed by others. People follow because they have a belief in the direction, intergrity, and competence of the one leading.

We are pleased to quote the following five short but meaningful ones:

***** Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer's year. It brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul. ---Billy Graham*2
***** The ultimate responsibility of a leader is to facilitate other people's development as well as his own. ---Fred Pryor
***** To be a leader means willingness to risk--and willingness to love. Has the leader given you something from the heart? ---Hubert H. Humphrey
***** The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between the leader is a servant. ---Max Dupree; "Leadership Is an Art"
***** Love is the higest, purest, most precious of all spiritual things. It will draw out from men their magnificent potential. ---Zig Ziglar

It's our pleasure to post a short story from "Speaker's Source Book II" by Glenn Van Ekeren:

I went on a search to become a leader.
I searched high and low. I spoke with authority. People listened. But alas, there was one who was wiser than I, and they follow that individual.
I sought to inspire confidence, but the crowd responded, "Why should I trust you?"
I postured, and I assumed the look of leadership with a countenance that flowed with confidence and pride. But many passed me by and never noticed my air of elegance.
I ran ahead of the others, pointed the way to new heights. I demonstrated that I knew the road to greatness. And then I looked back, and I was alone.
"What shall I do?" I queried. "I've tried hard and used all that I know." And I sat down and pondered long.
And then, I listened to the voices around me. And I heard what the group was trying to accomplish. I rolled up my sleeves and joined in the work.
As we worked, I asked, "Are we all together in what we want to do and how to get the job done?"
And we thought together, and we fought together, and we struggled towards our goal.
I found myself encouraging the fainthearted. I sought the ideas of those too shy to speak out. I taught those who had little skill. I praised those who worked hard. When our task was completed, one of the group turned to me and said, "This would not have been done but for your leadership."
At first, I said, "I didn't lead. I just worked with the rest." And then I understood, leadership is not a goal. It's a way to reaching a goal.
I lead best when I help others to go where we've decide to go. I lead best when I help others to use themselves creatively. I lead best when I forget about myself as leader and focus on my group...their needs and their goals.
To lead is to serve...to give...to achieve together.
---By Anonymous*3

Begin with praise and honest appreciation, we shall be more skillful in leading. Leadership is love through integrity!

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

*1. Ekeren, Glenn Van. (1988). "The Speaker's Source Book," Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
*2. Ibid.
*3. Ekeren, Glenn Van. (1994). "Speaker's Source Book II," Paramus, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Press.

"Anything you're good at contribute to happiness," said Bertrand Russell. It is our pleasure to post a short story, Formula for Success, from "Speaker's Source Book II" by Glenn Van Ekeren:

[[[As reported in the "Little Gazette", a former president of the General Motors Corporation started out as a stock boy and had a career that would have delighted Horatio Alger. At the time of his retirement, a report asked him whether it was still possible for a young man nowadays to start at the bottom and get to the top--if so how?
"Indeed, it is," was the answer. "The sad fact, however, is that so few young people realize it." Then he outlined a formula for success that will prove out not only in the auto industry but in any business.
"Keep thinking ahead of your job! Do it better than it needs to be done. Next time, doing it well will be child's play. Let no one, or anything, stand between you and a difficult task. Let nothing deny you the rich opportunity to gain strength in adversity, confidence in mastery. Do each task better each time. Do it better than anyone else can do it. Do these things, and nothing can keep the job ahead from reaching out after you!"]]]*1

"People worry about the huge amount of creativity that is wasted---lost forever---because talented people are prevented from giving their best by their lack of ability to influence others effectively," wrote Dr. Ken Blanchard in the 'Foreword' of the book entitled "Winning Ways," written by Dick Lyles.*2 "The business world has changed; organizations are getting flatter and more networked. Today, the key to success is one's ability to exercise peer leadership. The most successful individuals shine because of their ability to influence, empower, and energize others. In essence, they embody the principles and practices of Winning Ways." *3

"Rapid changes in technology and global competition have combined to reshape the corporate landscape. Corporate management has responnded to these changes by iniatating sweeping changes. The introduction of new technology may be touted as a productivity booster and turn out instead to be a total bust. Whatever the problem may be, you're the one who has to deal with it on a daily basis. Even when new ideas are well thought out, there are still problems in putting them into practice within your group," George Fuller wrote in the 'Introduction' of his book, "Win/win management: leading people in the new workplace." *4

There are lots of common headaches most of supervisors and leaders have to confront. "It's easy to understand how the broad scope these problems can easily lead to a less than steller attitude toward your job. However, adoping a sense of futility only serve to make matters worse. On the other hand, maintain a positive attitude helps you place things in perspective and can make coping eith problems a lot easier to do." *5

We have some more golden words of wisdom for positive thinking:

***"Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him and to let him know that you trust him." --- Booker T. Washington
***"The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more." --- Jonas Salk, MD
***"Those who trust us, educate us." --- George Eliot
***"Watch your thought, for they become words. Choose your words, for they become actions. Understand your actions, for they become habits. Study your habits, for they will become your character. Develop your character, for it becomes your destiny."*5
***"Art is the signature of civilizations," --- Beverly Sills
***Jesus said, "Everyone who bears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." --- Matthew 7:24-25 "Bible"
***"A book is a sucess when people who haven't read it pretend they have."
--- Los Angeles Times Syndicate
***"Anything you're good at contribute to happiness." --- Bertrand Russell
***"He who never made a mistake never made a discovery." --- Samuel Smiles

@*****
***If you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for bidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come
knowledge and understanding.
--- Job 28:28 of the "Bible"

***"Reserach is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose." --- Zora Neale Hurston
***"The naked truth is always better than the best-dressed lie." --- Ann Landers
***"Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity." --- Oprah Winfrey
***"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." --- Albert Camus
***"The secrette of joy in work is contain in one word -- excellence. to know how to do something well is oto enjoy it." --- Pearl Buck
***"Management is nothing more tnan moivating other people." --- Lee Iacocca
***"Imagination is more important knowledge. --- Ablbert Einstein
***"No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist." --- Oscar Wilde
***"A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits." --- President R. M. Nixon
***"The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible." --- Arthur C. Clarke
***"What would life be if we had no courage to attemp anything." --- Vincent Van Gogh
***"If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade." --- Tom Peters
***"If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it!" --- Jonathan Winters
***"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." --- Frank A. Clark
***"Pay peanuts and you get monkeys." --- Anonymous
***"Small opportunities are often the beginging of great enterprises." --- Demosthenes
***"The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit." --- Moliere
***"Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity." --- Oprah Winfrey
***"Freedom is the oxygen of the soul." --- Moshe Dayan
***"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." --- Proverbs 15 : 22 of the "Bible"

It is true, as Richard J. Needham said that, "What is success in this world? I would say it consista of four simple things--to live a lot, to love a lot, to laugh a lot, and from it all, to learn a lot." *7

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

*1. Ekeren, Glenn Van. (1994). "Speaker's Source Book II," Paramus, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Press.
*2. Blanchard, Ken. (2000). "Winning Ways". New York, N. Y.: G. P. Putnam's Sons.
*3. Ibid.
*4. Fuller, George. (1998). "Win/win management: leading people in the new workplace". London: Prentice Hall, Inc.
*5. Ibid.
*6. Lei, Becky. (2003). "Super E. Q. Onece for All". Taipei, Taiwan: Spring Publishing Co.
*7. Ekeren. Ibid.

It is with both pride and sadness that we celebrate Armed Forces Day on Saturday, May 19th.

Our sadness comes partly from the confirmation that we have lost Carson City native Sergeant Anthony Schober. His parents have had to endure the torture of not knowing the fate of their son…only to learn that he was one of four soldiers killed in Al Taqa, Iraq, when their patrol was attacked on May 12th.

We also mourn the loss of Sergeant Coby Schwab. Although Sergeant Schwab listed Puyallup, Washington as his hometown, his family lives in Henderson, and young Coby spent most of his life there. He is being buried on Armed Forces Day at Southern Nevada Veteran Cemetery in Boulder City.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to these families and their loved ones. We also pray for the safe return of the three soldiers in Sergeant Schober’s patrol who still have not been found.

Our pride comes from what these young Nevadans fought for and paid the ultimate price for—freedom. By fighting terrorists on foreign soil, they helped deter terrorist attacks here on our home front.

A good place to feel that pride is Hawthorne, Nevada, at the annual Armed Forces Day parade. The people of Hawthorne could well define “patriotism” for the rest of America. You cannot watch without feeling American pride, or without feeling a deep connection to Nevada, to our great nation, and to the brave men and women—including many Nevadans—who serve us all. As I join the celebration in Hawthorne, I encourage all Nevadans to remember our servicemen and women on this Armed Forces Day. (From an e-mail by Office of the Governor to WBTI on May 18, 2007.)

*****[[[ governor gibbons' statement on death of SGT. anthony jason schober

Carson City - Governor Jim Gibbons released the following statement regarding the death of Army Sgt. Anthony Jason Schober.

揇awn and I offer our thoughts and prayers to the friends and family of Sgt. Schober as they endure the loss of one of our nation抯 true heroes. Sgt. Schober exemplified honor and love of country, serving three tours in Iraq in support of the Global War on Terror. We honor his service to our country and recognize the ultimate sacrifice he made in the name of freedom.

揇awn and I also extend our prayers to the friends and family of the three soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, who were captured and reportedly are now being held by al-Qaida terrorists.?
Sgt. Schober, 23, served with the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) based at Fort Drum, New York.

In honor of Sgt. Schober, flags at the Nevada State Capitol will be flown at half-staff. (From an e-mail by Office of the Governor to WBTI on May 18, 2007.) ]]]

-----------------------------------
About Governor James A. Gibbons:
Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons earned a B.S. in Geology and later, a M.S. in Mining/Geology from the University of Nevada at Reno. Gibbons received the MacKay School of Mines Alumnus of the Year Award in 1999, and remains an active supporter of Nevadaˇs university and community college system. He also earned his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law and completed his post-graduate work at the University of Southern California. Born and raised in Sparks, Nevada, Governor Jim Gibbons was a former United States Congressman. Jim was first elected to represent Nevada's 2nd District in the House of Representatives in 1996. He was re-elected to a fifth term in November 2004. Prior to coming to Congress, Gibbons gained a distinguished military background. A former combat pilot and decorated veteran of both the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars, Governor Gibbons served in the United States Air Force from 1967 to 1971 and graduated from the USAF Air Command and Staff College as well as the Air War College. Attaining the rank of Colonel, Gibbons joined the Nevada Air Guard in 1975, and served as the group's Vice Commander from 1990 through 1996. Jim Gibbons served three terms in the Nevada State Legislature and was named 　霴utstanding Freshman Legislator　?his first year in 1988. By 1993, Gibbons rose through the ranks to become Republican Whip of the State Assembly. Jim Gibbons is Governor of Nevada starting from January 1, 2007. Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons is now Chairman of the Advisory Board of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI).
The articles by Governor James A. Gibbons and his Office in this section have been published by the leading search engines as soon as they were posted. The following information have been just received from a search of "NEVADA'S 18,000 GREATEST RESOURCES By James A. Gibbons", etc. on the Yahoo.com, Google.com, and among others at 8:57 a.m. in the morning on May 19, 2007 (first appeared on May 10, 2007). It is the most recent article written by him in this section (posted on May 7, 2007):
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Past drafts, documents ...
For "NEVADA'S 18,000 GREATEST RESOURCES. By James A. Gibbons" (Posted on 050707. ... NEVADA'S 18,000 GREATEST RESOURCES. By James A. Gibbons ...communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=cge&... - 214k - Cached - More from this site
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Business ...
Political will is a renewable resource, and enough already exists to start solving this crisis. ... NEVADA'S 18,000 GREATEST RESOURCES. By James A. Gibbons ...communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=cge&... - 111k - Cached - More from this site
From a search of "jim gibbons, governor of nevada" ---
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Jim Gibbons, Governor of ...
Jim Gibbons is Governor of Nevada starting from January 1, 2007. ... team, especially former Governors List and Bryan and Lieutenant Governor Hunt. ...communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=cge&... - 89k - Cached - More from this site

It~{!/~}s time to fix America ~{!/~}s broken immigration system with a policy that is tough on those who break the law, fair to taxpayers, and practical to implement.*2

This week I introduced the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007. This is the same bill that passed the Senate with broad, bipartisan support last year. In fact, 23 Republicans voted for it. Unfortunately, the bill was killed by conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives. This bill addresses the problems of illegal immigration through strengthening border security, reuniting families, creating tough and smart workplace enforcement, and bringing 12 million people out of the shadows of our society.

Today, there are more than 12 million undocumented immigrants in our country. The vast majority of them are law-abiding, productive people, who have contributed a great deal to the spirit, culture, and economy of America . However, it is imperative that we know who is in our country and who is crossing our borders.

We need to stem the flow of illegal immigration by passing reform that includes strong and effective border patrol and tough sanctions against employers who hire undocumented immigrants. We also need a new worker program and an opportunity for undocumented workers who are already here to earn their way to U.S. citizenship by getting in the back of the line, working hard for several years, paying taxes, learning English, passing criminal background checks, and paying fines and penalties.

Our nation~{!/~}s diversity is what makes us strong. America has proudly provided hope for those who yearn to be free. This sentiment is the guiding light of America that has led the world for the last two and a half centuries. The Senate must reestablish the rule of law while upholding the values of our great nation. This is not amnesty; it is a firm and sensible approach to fixing our flawed immigration system. I hope you will join me in calling on our President and legislators from both sides of the aisle to come together and fulfill their obligation to the American people on an issue that can no longer be ignored.

[[[ Which of the following aspects of Comprehensive Immigration Reform are most important to you?

Stronger borders

Tougher worksite enforcement policies

Clearing visa backlogs

A new worker program

Providing avenues to earned legal status

Speak Up! ]]]

[[[ I am proud to be your voice in the United States Senate, and I believe it is important that we communicate with each other. For my part, I will send these newsletters throughout the 110th Congress. I encourage you to speak up and let your voice be heard.

Speak Up! ]]] *3

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

*1. About Senator Harry Reid (a concise one by the Editor of this flier): U. S. Senator Harry M. Reid is the Democratic Leader (now Majority Leader) in the U. S. Senate. He is a man who commands the respect of colleagues from both parties, and a powerful advocate for Nevada~{!/~}s middle-class families.
But he still lives in Searchlight ~{!-~} and he is still guided by the lessons and values he learned there.
The Las Vegas Sun newspaper summarized Reid~{!/~}s story by saying that he ~{!0~}has gone from underdog to Senate~{!/~}s top dog.~{!1~}
Parade Magazine, the nation~{!/~}s largest weekly magazine, identified Senator Reid as one of a handful of leaders in Washington with ~{!0~}integrity and guts.~{!1~}
Since Nevadans elected him to the Senate in 1986, Harry Reid has developed a reputation as a consensus builder and a skillful legislator. Even his Republican colleagues praise his reasoned, balanced approach.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) has said, ~{!0~}We all respect Senator Reid. He is one of the moderate voices around here who tries to get things to work.~{!1~}
And former GOP Leader Trent Lott said, ~{!0~}Harry Reid is out there finding a solution. I enjoy working with him very much.~{!1~}
He was elected to the Senate in 1986, and re-elected in 1992, 1998 and 2004. He has served as the chairman or senior Democratic member on several important committees and subcommittees.
Reid is a tireless worker, and it isn~{!/~}t unusual for him to be the first Senator of either party to arrive at the Capitol in the morning and the last to go home at night.
*2. Reid, Harry. 'The Reid Report,' "An e-mail from U. S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's Office to Washington Business and Technology Institute," (May 16, 2007), Washington, D. C.: Senator Harry Reid's Office.
*3. Ibid.
Editor's note: The articles by Senator Harry Reid in this section have been published by the leading search engines as soon as they were posted. The following information have been just received from a search of "Restoring America's Competitive Advantage By Harry M. Reid", etc. on the Yahoo.com, Google.com, and among others at 9:07 a.m. in the morning on May 18, 2007:
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Harry Reid, U. S. Senator
Restoring America's Competitive Advantage. By Harry M. Reid*(1) ... Restoring America's Competitive Advantage,' "A search of 'Business ...communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=cge&... - 129k - Cached - More from this site
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Business ...
Restoring America's Competitive Advantage By Harry M. Reid", etc. that we posted ... Restoring America's Competitive Advantage. By Harry M. Reid*1 ...communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=cge&... - 111k - Cached - More from this site
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Harry Reid, U. S. Senator
... pleasure to accept the honor as Professor of Administrative Strategies ... could find what WBTI did the articles for Senator Harry Reid have been posted in ...communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=cge&... - 129k - Cached
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Past drafts, documents ...
By Dr. Harry Reid and PAI of WBTI*1 ... 1. Dr. Harry Reid is a Nevadan U. S. Senator and the Democratic Leader of U. S. Senate. ...communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/...&START_COUNT=16 - 187k - Cached

A proclamation: [[[ Carson City ?Governor Jim Gibbons issued the following proclamation recognizing May 14-18, 2007 as Innovation America Week.

揑nnovation America Week recognizes the importance of innovation in today抯 competitive global marketplace. The future economic vitality of our state depends upon our ability to remain at the forefront of technology, beginning with the curriculum we teach our children in school. By placing an emphasis on math, science, and technology, we can better prepare our children for a highly specialized and technical job market,?said Governor Gibbons. (From an e-mail by The Office of Governor to WBTI on May 14, 2007.) ]]]

I ran for governor and I took office promising to do everything within my power not to raise your taxes. I have stood firm in this commitment.

One of Nevada抯 greatest challenges over the next decade will be finding money to pay for road construction. Clogged transportation arteries threaten our commerce and our quality of life, especially in southern Nevada, where new residents and new visitors bring thousands of additional cars every month.

Others have proposed meeting this challenge with new taxes. I reject that proposal, not only because it violates my commitment not to raise taxes, but also because the 搒olution?of additional taxes would only add to the problems by further threatening our commerce and eroding our quality of life.

Yesterday on the Capitol steps in Carson City and today at the Highway Patrol抯 Southern Command Traffic Management Center in Las Vegas, I unveiled a plan to raise more money for transportation梬ithout raising taxes. My plan relies on the reallocation of a fraction of the growth we project in existing taxes, such as the hotel room tax, vehicle sales tax and live entertainment tax. For example, 1.5 percent of future Clark County room tax would be reallocated to road construction in Clark County, where tourist traffic contributes to gridlock. It does no good to bring more visitors here if they have a bad experience because our transportation system can抰 accommodate them.

Growth must pay for growth. Not only do tourists deserve a pleasant visit, but Nevadans deserve safe and convenient trips to work, to the grocery store and to drive their children to school.

Not everyone will like this plan, but I believe it is fair and it will work. Through the use of bonds, my proposal is projected to raise about $2.5 billion for statewide road projects over the next eight years. I believe it is the right thing for Nevadans, because it takes a giant step toward solving our transportation problems厀ithout raising taxes. I remain committed to providing essential state services, while holding the line on taxes. [From an e-mail by The Office of Governor on May 11, 2007.]

-----------------------------------
About Governor James A. Gibbons:
Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons earned a B.S. in Geology and later, a M.S. in Mining/Geology from the University of Nevada at Reno. Gibbons received the MacKay School of Mines Alumnus of the Year Award in 1999, and remains an active supporter of Nevada¡¦s university and community college system. He also earned his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law and completed his post-graduate work at the University of Southern California. Born and raised in Sparks, Nevada, Governor Jim Gibbons was a former United States Congressman. Jim was first elected to represent Nevada's 2nd District in the House of Representatives in 1996. He was re-elected to a fifth term in November 2004. Prior to coming to Congress, Gibbons gained a distinguished military background. A former combat pilot and decorated veteran of both the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars, Governor Gibbons served in the United States Air Force from 1967 to 1971 and graduated from the USAF Air Command and Staff College as well as the Air War College. Attaining the rank of Colonel, Gibbons joined the Nevada Air Guard in 1975, and served as the group's Vice Commander from 1990 through 1996. Jim Gibbons served three terms in the Nevada State Legislature and was named ¡~{!l~}Outstanding Freshman Legislator¡~{!'~} his first year in 1988. By 1993, Gibbons rose through the ranks to become Republican Whip of the State Assembly. Jim Gibbons is Governor of Nevada starting from January 1, 2007. Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons is now Chairman of the Advisory Board of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI).
The last article in this section for the Office of Nevada Governor on RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSMISSION ... (posted on May 11, 2007) has been published by the leading search engines like Yahoo.com, Google.com, and among others early in the morning at 7:01 a.m. on May 17, 2007:
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Business ...
Quick News and Nevada GOVERNOR Jim GIBBONS ESTABLISHES RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSMISSION ... Renewable Energy Transmission Access Advisory Committee and ...communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=cge&... - 111k - Cached - More from this site
From a search of "jim gibbons wbti":
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Jim Gibbons, Governor of ...
Jim Gibbons, Governor of Nevada. http://communitylink.reviewjournal. ... 033007-5057 "Jim Gibbons, Governor of Nevada" of WBTI website, Friday, 5:57 p. m. ...communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=cge&... - 89k - Cached - More from this site
From a search of "Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons, Chairman":
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Jim Gibbons, Governor of ...
Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons is now Chairman of the Advisory Board of Washington ... team, especially former Governors List and Bryan and Lieutenant Governor Hunt. ...communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=cge&... - 89k - Cached - More from this site

***** If there is anything that a man can do well, I say let him do it. Give him a chance. ---Abraham Lincoln

The following are some paragraphs of the most recent Press Release from the Office of Senator John Ensign on May 11, 2007:

"In a continuing effort to improve security and services for Nevada's airports, Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign announced today that they have secured nearly $11 million in funding for the Reno/Tahoe International Airport," stated the Press on last Friday.

"Tourism is an integral part of Nevada's economy," said Reid. "This grant will improve air travel for both residents and visitors. It is critical our airports continue to receive important funding like this. I will continue to work to enhance security and services for travelers flying in and out of the Reno area."

"This funding is essential to helping the Reno Airport accommodate the growth of Reno, Sparks and other local communities," said Ensign. "These necessary infrastructure improvements to the Reno Airport will help continue the economic success in the surrounding region." *1

On May 9, 2007 it reported that, "Experts link high prices to production shortages that can be traced to a continued lack of refining capacity. A new refinery has not been built in America since 1976 because of high costs and bureaucratic red tape, which further increases our reliance on foreign oil. Diversifying our energy supply is also a critical component to a comprehensive plan, including environmentally safe exploration of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge."

It is our pleasure to post the following information by "The Press Release of Senator Ensign" on April 25, 2007 from the Office of U. S. Senator John Ensign in Washington, D. C.:

ENSIGN WORKS TO KEEP AMERICA COMPETITIVE
America COMPETES Act Passes Senate

Washington, D.C. - Today the United States Senate passed legislation that addresses critical education needs and promotes basic research in math, science and technology. As Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Technology, Innovation and Competitiveness last Congress, Ensign played a leading role in drafting the America COMPETES Act.

"America needs a boost in math, science, technology and engineering," said Ensign, who is now the Ranking Member on the Science, Technology and Innovation Subcommittee. "Even though we've always led the way in innovation, without this bill we risk losing our competitive edge to China and India."

The America COMPETES Act puts us on a path to remain competitive throughout the 21st Century by doubling the funding for the National Science Foundation and strengthening educational opportunities in math, science and engineering. Competitive grants to help struggling students in mathematics will be available, and states interested in establishing or expanding specialty schools in math and science will receive assistance.

"I'm a fiscal conservative, but the dollars we invest in basic research will come back to us in spades in terms of stimulating economic activity and helping the United States remain at the forefront of global innovation," Ensign said on the floor of the Senate during debate today.

Last year Senator Ensign was tapped by the Senate Majority Leader to coordinate the efforts of several Senate committees - Commerce; Energy; and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) - in order to craft the America COMPETES Act. [Wednesday, April 25, 2007] *2

The previous articles in this and related sections for Senator John Ensign on his accomplishments and life time commitment to Nevada and America have been published by the leading search engines like Yahoo.com, Google.com, and among others in the morning on May 11, 2007:

Washington Business and Technology Institute - John Ensign, U. S. Senator
... to learn that U. S. Senator John Ensign was awarded "SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE" by ... Senator John Ensign has served the people of Nevada from his days as a ...communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=cge&... - 82k - Cached - More from this site *3

For "The American dream realized by U. S. Senator John Ensign ..." on the Google.com --- WBTI & Chinese American Academic Association of Nevada (CAAAN ...The American dream realized by U. S. Senator John Ensign and his great grandfather By GSBPA of WBTI*1. @@@@@ One person with a belief is a social power ...
communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=page&GID=01325001051063401400197432&... - 95k - Cached - Similar pages

Washington Business and Technology Institute - PPAA18 (Pan Pacific ...The American dream realized by US Senator John Ensign and his great-grantfather By GSBPA of WBTI*1. *****"Luck is a matter of preparation meeting ...
communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/DBPAGE=page&MODE=display&GID=01101010550976... - 61k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from communitylink.reviewjournal.com ] *4

John's wife, Darlene, encouraged him into his first political race for Congress. Earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University in 1995, his scholarstic and gentle appearance has won him lots of applause and respect from knowledgeable ladies and gentlemen in educational events and social activities.

"In the first paragraph of this column on September 15, it stated that on September 7, U. S. Senate Candidate John Ensign wrote: "Please accept my best wishes as you come together in celebration of the Thai Performaning Arts, Appreciation Day 2000. The importance of sharing culture through art and festivities that bring people together serves to enhance all of us more by enriching our lives with the diversity of people and their customs. I especially would like to extend my appreciation to Dr. Tony T. Lei for his commitment and enthusiantic support of the Thai Performing Arts." He accepted Dr. Tony T. Lei's invitation as a Guest Speaker to talk about protecting Social Security and Medicare for our Nevadan seniors at a Forum held by Seniors United. He believes that America must honor its word to seniors," reported the Nevada Examiner.*5

"On October 15, John attended the worship service of the Liberty Baptist Church. He offered a short speech of testifmony. He said that he was so frustrated of his first time to taste political failure, when he lost by a mere 428 votes to U. S. Senator Harry Reid. He believes God. He has surrenderring his fate to God. As a born-again Christian, people has inspired of his sincererity, humbleness, and credibility much more than just of his appearance now. In the Pastor Teis' meeting Office, John agreed with Dr. Tony T. Lei that WBTI would honor him as Advisor (effective on 10/17) and Vice Chairman (effective on 11/08 when elected as Senator) of its Advisory Board. If a window was closed, God might re-open the window or even open a door for the people who is eager to utilize his or her knowledge and expertise to serve. The matter is that we should believe God. Congretulations! Republican U. S. Senator-elect Honorable John Ensign." *6

"Since taking office, Senator Ensign has worked hard and fulfilled his promises to the people of Nevada. His Education High Growth Grant amendment, which brings tens of millions of extra dollars to Nevada schools, was included in the education bill signed into law by President Bush," pointed out the bio for U. S. Senator John Ensign.*7

"Senator Ensign~{!/~}s commitment to the environment also resulted in the enactment of the Ensign-Reid Clark County Lands Bill which protects environmentally sensitive areas in southern Nevada, allows recreational opportunities to continue, and improves the quality of life for all citizens. Thanks to Ensign~{!/~}s leadership, similar land bills for White Pine and Lincoln Counties were signed into law and have provided an economic boost while preserving the pristine beauty of our state. The legislation included funding to reduce the threat of catastrophic fire in the Great Basin Area and eastern Nevada as well as protections for our valuable outdoor areas such as Lake Tahoe, the Ballardini Ranch, and the eastern Sierra."

Extended from his encouragement and inspiration to educational and community services, Senator John Ensign has been an Advisor and Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI) since November 8, 2000.

For Nevada, we need bright vision and enthusiasm with love and integrity. Our mutual cooperation and development between the officials and people will bring us a peaceful, happy, and healthy community!

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

*1. Office of Senator John Ensign. '"NOW ARRIVING: A NEW TAXIWAY AT RENO/TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT" and "ENSIGN WORKS TO KEEP AMERICA COMPETITIVE",'"Two press releases of Senator John Ensign," (May 11 and April 25, 2007), Washington, D. C.: John Ensign's Office in U. S. Senate.
*2. Ibid.
*3. Douglas, Michael; Weber, Valerie; Moss, Cheryl; and Chang, Tiffany. 'Brilliant, Yahoo answers our people, community, and world!' "A serarch of 'Senator Jonh Ensign' on the Yahoo.com," (May 15, 2007), Sunnyvale, California: Yahoo.com.
*4. Douglas, Michael; Weber, Valerie; Moss, Cheryl; and Chang, Tiffany. 'Brilliant, Google answers our people, community, and world!' "A serarch of 'Elaine Chao, U. S. Secretary of Labor' on the Yahoo.com," (May 14, 2007), Mountain View, California: Google.com.
*5. Chang, Tiffany. 'John Ensign has been honored Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board of WBTI,' "Nevada Examiner," (2000), Las Vegas, Nevada: Nevada Examiner.
*6. Ibid.
*7. John Ensign's website. 'Senator Ensign has worked hard and fulfilled his promises to the people,' "John Ensign, U. S. Senator, Nevada," (May 15, 2007), Washington, D. C.: Office of John Ensign.

Dear Tony,

In this era of unprecedented military deployments and heavy use of the states' National Guard units, the Nevada Army and Air National Guard can stand tall, and every Nevadan is deeply grateful to each member of the Guard and his/her family.

But it's time to bring our citizen soldiers home.

Today, Nevada has 300 men and women of our National Guard deployed in Iraq. Over the course of this conflict, about 1500 guardsmen have served there for some length of time. Two have made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives for our great country, and 200 have been injured in the line of duty.

You can join us in this call to action by heading to my website, www.dinatitus.com - there you can add your name and join us in calling for the return of our National Guard units.

As part of the armed forces of the United States, the Guard holds a special place in our country's military structure. Unless called to duty by the federal government, the Guard is part of the Nevada Office of the Military and its civilian commander is the Governor. Join us in asking him to exercise that function and bring our men and women home by Thanksgiving.

----------

Appreciating our educators

Yesterday, May 8, was Teacher Appreciation Day in Nevada. This year marks 30 years for me as a teacher, and I wouldn't have missed a single one of those years for the world.

My classes are never easy, and I'm proud of the opportunities I've had to challenge and educate students for three decades.

The Nevada Legislature took the time to recognize the impact that teachers have on the future of our state and our children and honor the men and women who have chosen education as their career. We owe them a deep debt of gratitude. Check my website for remarks made at the awards banquet of the Clark County Education Association honoring outstanding teachers and students.

As always, I appreciate your being here and welcome to all of our new members who have signed up recently! I look forward to writing you again soon.

Sincerely,

Dina Titus
Nevada Senate Minority Leader
[From an e-mail by Friends of Dina Titus to WBTI on May 9, 2007.]

---------------------
About the Author:
Dr. Dina Titus [Alice Costandina (Dina) Titus], a native of Georgia, was educated at William and Mary, University of Georgia and received her Ph. D. from Florida State University. She currently teaches Political Science at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. She is a Nevada State Senator from District 7 in Clark County. In 1999 she was the Nevada Arts Advocate of the Year. Her most recent publication is Bombs in the Backyard: Atomic Testing and American Politics. The title of Dr. Titus Convocation lecture, the Mushroom Cloud as an American Symbol, attests to the extensive knowledge she has concerning America nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site and the impact it has had on that region. Dr. Dina Titus is now Nevada Senate Minority Leader and also a famous Professor of Administrative Strategies in the Graduate School of Business and Public Administration (GSBPA) of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI).
The last article in this section for her on "Rough road ahead" (at 050807) has been published by the leading search engines like Yahoo.com, Google.com, and among others in the afternoon at 4:27 p.m. on May 12, 2007:
For "Rough road ahead. I look forward to writing you again soon! wbti" (Posted on 050807.)
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Business ...
Rough road ahead. I look forward to writing you again soon! By Dr. Dina Titus. Dear Tony, ... dinatitus.com and I look forward to writing you again soon. ...communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/dbpage=cge&... - 109k - Cached
For "Dr. Dina Titus" on the Google.com in the morning on 05/13th/07
Washington Business and Technology Institute - Business ...Dr. Dina Titus is now Nevada Senate Minority Leader and also a famous Professor of ... WBTI & Chinese American Academic Association of Nevada (CAAAN . ...
communitylink.reviewjournal.com/servlet/lvrj_ProcServ/DBPAGE=page&MODE=display&GID=01101010550976... - 133k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages

I was pleased to work with a group of legislators and Governor Gibbons over the past three months to try and understand Nevada's transportation "crisis" - and to come up with a common-sense solution to the crisis. That plan was released today, and will likely be in the news tonight and tomorrow. What follows is my own commentary on the plan, revealing opinions not neccesarily shared by all of the people who worked on the Republican proposal.

The Crisis

I have come to the conclusion Nevada's roads "crisis" is exaggerated.

There is no doubt we have some highway construction challenges. Three big ones are:

Nevada's gas tax, levied in pennies-per-gallon rather than as a percentage, loses purchasing power to inflation year after year. Our cost of road construction naturally inflates with America's paper-backed federal monetary system, but our gas tax proceeds do not. To put it another way, the percentage of your gasoline fill-ups that goes to fund highway construction has been steadily shrinking for more than a decade.
Under Governor Guinn's management, Nevada has gone on a borrowing spree. When he started as Governor, only a small portion of our highway fund income was used to pay down our debts. Today, a large portion of our highway fund income goes to pay our debts. In Guinn's defense, he went on this borrowing spree while interest rates were at their lowest, and allowed Nevada to spend money on road projects much faster than our population has been growing.
Governor Gibbons inherited a Nevada Department of Transportation that was unleashed and out of control. The Legislature ordered an audit in 2003, which Governor Guinn vetoed without explanation. The agency had stopped performing FHWA-prescribed "Benefit-Cost Analysis" to prioritize projects in 1995 because the process's results differed with the increasingly political prioritization of projects taking place at DOT.
Governor Gibbons almost immediately upon taking office appointed a new director of the Department of Transportation who has vowed to fix the agency, return transparency and accountability to it, and re-institute "Benefit-Cost Analysis."

The False Crisis

Governor Guinn created a "Blue-Ribbon Commission" on transportation a few years ago. This group met a number of times over the past two years, and issued a report finding that Nevada had a "$3.8-billion deficit" in road construction. Their report included a list of 10 superprojects to support this "deficit" and a recommendation for tax hikes.

Also, during this legislative session, radio ads have run in both ends of the state, urging citizens to contact their legislators to demand that taxes be raised to solve the "crisis" described by the Blue Ribbon Commission.

However, with the exception of employees of the road construction companies who paid for the radio ads, very few Nevadans have sent in emails demanding taxes be raised to fund more road construction contracts.

And new information on the Blue Ribbon Commission report has cast its conclusions in a dim light:

It turns out almost half of the Blue Ribbon Commission's members (6 of 14) work for local governments in Nevada. On the surface, this makes sense - they're closest to where the rubber meets the road, so to speak - but the Commission immediately banned discussing the most sensible funding solution, local government cost-sharing.
The list of ten project is not well thought out. It includes at least one project that a very recent "Benefit-Cost Analysis" report says has a negative ratio, meaning the project should not be built at all - much less would create a crisis by not building it. This corroborates my early criticism of the Commission's list of "crisis" projects.
The Blue Ribbon Commission's entire report must now be viewed with a very critical eye, understanding that it was guided by DOT personnel who included a list of "crisis" projects that included at least one inappropriate project, and whose seminal conclusion (that we have an unfunded deficit requiring tax hikes to solve) may well be faulty.
What to do?

I am not sure we need an immediate response to this "crisis". It appears contrived by folks interested in things other than moving Nevadans comfortably from point A to point B. But I could be wrong.

That's why I was proud to stand behind Governor Gibbons today while he outlined his plan to spend a bunch more money building roads, without raising taxes.

Invitation to Read Beers' Daily Postings

For more Bob Beers articles, check out his online weblog, updated most days the Nevada legislature is in session.
[From an e-mail by Bob Beers to WBTI on May 10, 2007.]

-------------------------------------------
About the Author:
Nevada Senator Bob Beers has spent the last eight years fighting to help Nevada families keep more of their paychecks. Bob Beers is a longtime Nevada resident who has lived and worked in Reno and Las Vegas. He earned a business degree from UNLV with distinction, owned and operated a respected computer accounting company, and is a certified public accountant (CPA). In 1998 he was elected to Nevada Assembly. Bob Beers was elected as a state Senator of Nevada in 2004.