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Candidates Trade Barbs Over Gaming Tax Plan

LAS VEGAS, Nevada –Aug. 29, 2000 --Political newcomer Uri Clinton says his primary election opponent for the state Senate District 4 seat is putting forth a "gaming scheme."

His opponent is state Sen. Joe Neal, who has held his position for 27 years, almost as long as Clinton has been alive.

The "scheme" Clinton referred to is Neal's petition to raise the state's gaming tax from 6.25 percent to 11.25 percent. The two candidates expressed sharp disagreement on this and other issues during an animated debate Monday on "POV Vegas," the Las Vegas Sun's news discussion show on Las Vegas ONE on Cox cable channels 1 and 39.

At one point, Neal produced his petition and asked Clinton to sign it. Clinton answered that he would never put pen to paper for his rival's "gaming scheme."

Clinton and Neal, both Democrats, are headed for a showdown at the polls in primary election Tuesday.

"His scheme is totally different from a legitimate gaming tax," Clinton charged.

Neal, who says the state is unable to adequately fund education, public safety and other critical government functions, has been pushing to increase taxes on gaming revenues for years. And for years he has received virtually no support from his colleagues in the Legislature.

That is why he is circulating the petition, to take the issue directly to the voters.

Neal needs to obtain the signatures of at least 44,009 registered voters by Nov. 14. If he succeeds, the 2001 Legislature must either pass or reject the tax increase. If lawmakers turn it down, the tax increase will appear as a ballot question on Election Day 2002.

Revenue from the increase, if it takes effect, would be divided as follows: 45 percent to public schools, 38 percent to raising Nevada Highway Patrol salaries, 7 percent to economic development and 2 percent to fighting gambling addiction.

Clinton criticized Neal's distribution formula, saying it doesn't address other important needs in the state and doesn't free up any money in the general fund.

"This tax initiative is bad policy," Clinton said. "I think it's a tax scheme that our voters cannot afford. I think it's going to cost us jobs, and it's not going to fill in any of the gaps that we have currently in our budget.

"What about prescription drugs, uninsured children, unemployment, teens having babies?" Clinton said. "We still don't have the tax money to provide funding."

Neal fought back, telling Clinton that making casinos pay for growth leaves other funds available in the budget. He said the public has a right to vote for what's best for them.

During breaks the two candidates refused to make eye contact or utter a word to each other, a mood that began when the two sat near each other before the debate in icy silence.

While Neal touted the economic diversity of the district, areas in North Las Vegas and West Las Vegas, Clinton said Neal has lost touch with those he was elected to represent.

Clinton said since Neal has been senator, the district's growth has been stagnant and is far behind the economic boom in Clark County.

"We have one of the highest dropout rates in the nation, teen pregnancy is higher than it has ever been and housing ownership is lower in our district than in any other district," Clinton said. "We have significant social ills that need to be addressed."

Neal laughed off the comments, saying that teen pregnancy has in fact gone down and that 50,000 people in the district are employed.

Clinton said he has lived in the district all his life and that he wants to help turn around the blighted, economically-deprived areas.

"It is appalling, and it is a crime that we have North Las Vegas and West Las Vegas, which traditionally have the highest unemployment rate, lowest teenage graduation rate ... so when (Neal) tells me we have this sunnyside district I'm appalled by it."

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