Legislative watch: Legislature, Governor reach a budget

A budget compromise was reached on June 2 by the Legislature and the governor. It was not what either side wanted, but time was running out.

The good news appears to be that no Health and Human Services cuts in addition to those already announced last week are included; however, the bad news is that the HHS cuts recommended by the governor would have been added back if the Democrats tax package had been considered.

One of the items on the chopping block affecting seniors is the elimination of a senior citizen's property tax assistance program for about 17,000 participants who on average receive about $267 a year. It will save the state about $1.2 million. I find that interesting since that is about the same amount as the special election is going to cost taxpayers by the Governor appointing Dean Heller to Senator John Ensign's seat. Ensign resigned; however, it won't cost the state anything as it will be shuffled down to the counties to cover. That means Washoe County must come up with about $350,000 for this special election while at the same time it is laying off law enforcement officers and firefighters because of a lack of funds.

The immediate appointment of Dean Heller was unnecessary. The seat could have been filled by anyone until the 2012 regular election took place. Representatives Dean Heller and Shelley Berkley already announced they were going to run for Ensign's seat. However, by the Governor appointing Dean Heller, it threw the state into a costly special election that no one can afford. Make sense? It says that we can't help the seniors with their taxes but we can afford a special election? As stated, it will cost the counties $1.3 million dollars that they will try to recover from the state. Good luck!

The next important item on the chopping block is a reduction in Medicaid and Nevada Check-Up funding by $19.3 million. That includes $5.00 per day bed-day reduction for nursing homes; 0.7 percent reduction for dental and 15 percent for surgical centers and ambulance services. This means a considerable cost for counties who now must deal with a special election cost that was totally out of line with the economic struggles going on.

Mental Health programs took the brunt of these cuts with many eliminated entirely. What happens to these people? Is this Question 13 passed in California all over again? Do we never learn?

Now the battle is on redistricting and games are being played with the Hispanic communities. We will see. Stay tuned.

• Janice Ayres is president Nevada Senior Corps Association.