UNLV Faculty Alliance: Legislative leaders seek our support to help secure more stable future for Nevada

We reprint below a letter sent today by leaders of both houses of the Nevada state legislature to the people of the state, asking for their support in the final weeks of the session. These leaders have presented an alternative, compromise budget that includes a balanced combination of cuts and revenue reform.

This week, a crucial element of that compromise budget was approved -- a modification to the budget for the Nevada System of Higher Education that would significant cushion the blow to our state's students, greatly reduce the number of programs cut and of faculty and staff laid off, and would ensure adequate investment in our economic development.

For that alternative to be enacted, the state legislature must reach an agreement on revenue reform. There has been vocal support from the state's business community for adequate investment in higher education -- but hesitancy from that same community to support the revenue necessary to make that investment, due to unrelated concerns about local government personnel policies.

We are therefore calling on all NFA members, faculty and staff, students and supporters of higher education to make your voice heard. Just as our students this week camped out for 72 hours, we should all devote at least some part of our personal time and resources to make our contribution to shaping the state's future. We urge you to read the letter below and to take action to contact key legislators (listed below) -- and to do so right now.

Legislative switchboard: 1-800-995-9080

Joe Hardy (R) jhardy@sen.state.nv.us
Mike McGinness (R) mmcginness@sen.state.nv.us
Dean Rhoads (R) drhoads@sen.state.nv.us
Ben Kieckhefer (R) bkieckhefer@sen.state.nv.us
Pat Hickey (R) phickey@asm.state.nv.us
Pete Goicoechea (R) pgoicoechea@asm.state.nv.us
Lynn Stewart (R) lstewart@asm.state.nv.us
Ira Hansen ihansen@asm.state.nv.us
Randy Kirner rkirner@asm.state.nv.us

As Nevada's budget crisis looms, we're working to bring people together to find a balanced approach that will position Nevada for success.

For too long we've struggled to fund our schools and the reforms we need to improve student achievement. We've suffered through cycles of boom-and-bust because our tax code is so narrow and its revenues so unpredictable. We've let our colleges and universities - the engine of our economy - falter even as more Nevadans seek job retraining in the tough economy.

Meanwhile, Governor Sandoval has failed to look for common ground. He's out of touch, and adopting his extreme position works against job creation and would sacrifice a generation of students. It's the Jim Gibbons approach all over again - and we know that won't work.

Our legislators need your help. We will only find a compromise approach to the budget if you raise your voice. Will you email or call these key legislators and tell them to make only strategic cuts and reform our tax code to make it stable and sustainable? Tell them we need reform, but we need a tax base that's stable enough to support it. That's how we end the boom-and-bust cycle and position Nevada for success.

Take action NOW. Email these key legislators and make your voice heard. Grassroots action will turn the tide, but it will only happen if you participate.

Thank you,

John Oceguera, Assembly Speaker
Steven Horsford, Nevada Senate Majority Leader