Don’t let lawmakers be lawbreakers
To the editor:
In the upcoming residency challenge in Assembly District 9, one legislative candidate, Republican Kelly Hurst, has sought disqualify his Democratic opponent, Andrew Martin, for not living in the district. As a result of the complaint, the District Court is being asked to decide the merits of this important case. In planning to hear the case Monday, before next Saturday's start of early voting, the court has decided against casting a blind eye on a practice too often ignored in Nevada.
Nothing goes to the heart of the democratic process more than the integrity of elections. Our very system of government hinges upon the fragile foundation of public trust. If that trust is violated by those who would opportunistically skirt the law, then the sacred bond between candidates and the citizens who elect them can destroy the very integrity of the election process itself.
Commonly known to many longtime observers, and contrary to state law, numerous Nevada legislators have lied in the past about where they lived. Monday's hearing will send a message to future ethically challenged political trespassers that Nevada will no longer look the other way.
In the wake of recent redistricting, Nevada voters will soon go to the polls to elect a large number of new state legislators. While we enjoy the right to choose our own lawmakers, we don't deserve to have any of those lawmakers be lawbreakers before they take office.
Nevada has always had a unique role in America. We have a so-called citizen Legislature. Members are not full-time, paid professional politicians like those in our neighbor to the west. Having lawmakers who live, work, shop and send their children to schools within the areas they represent is fundamental to you, the voter, giving you access to those who represent you.
The pending case against Mr. Martin is more than a partisan matter. It matters to every Nevadan that our elected state officials not only work for the people and are elected by the people, but most importantly, that they are truly candidates of the people they claim to represent.
Pat Hickey
Reno
The writer, a Republican representing Assembly District 25, is Assembly minority leader.
Selective hearing
To the editor:
In Wednesday's Review-Journal, letter writer Jim Guynup illustrated how those on the left have selective hearing.
In the presidential debate, Mitt Romney clearly stated he would not borrow money from China to give to PBS. Mr. Guynup somehow translated that into Mr. Romney wanting to put PBS out of business. How ridiculous.
Supporters of the president only hear what they want to hear. For those who believe in the president, they should follow his advice: He said he should not be re-elected if he could not turn the country around after four years. I agree. The facts are what they are, and the truth is Mr. Obama has had a budget deficit of more than $1 trillion in each of his four years. The president has increased our national debt to more than $16 trillion in less than one term. This is an unsustainable trend.
Clearly Mr. Romney won the first debate, and he will win the next two. The president cannot run from his record.
William Dwyer
Las Vegas
Boorish Biden
To the editor:
After watching Thursday's vice presidential debate, it was clear that had the Constitution precluded rude, offensive and obnoxious people from becoming vice president, Joe Biden would have been limited to becoming the Senate majority leader.
Gerry Lock
Las Vegas
Romney stimulus
To the editor:
Your newspaper's Sunday endorsement of Mitt Romney for president has stimulated us to renew our Review-Journal subscription.
J.P. Anderson
North Las Vegas
Deeper in debt
To the editor:
The state of the union under President Obama, in my opinion, can be summed up by the well-known refrain from the song "16 Tons," as made famous by Johnny Cash and Tennessee Ernie Ford:
You load 16 tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store.
Norman Karasick
Las Vegas
Hypocrisy
To the editor:
Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they have health insurance, but does not require everyone to prove they are a citizen. Now many of those who refuse to prove or are unable to prove they are citizens will receive free health care, paid for by those who are forced to buy insurance because they are citizens.
Kenneth Heinz
Henderson
Get a bigger paddle
To the editor:
Nearly every time I go to the library, somebody is there at the steps to ask me if I'm registered to vote. I love these people's dedication to democracy and the American way.
When recently queried, I admitted that, yes, I am a stub-carrying voter but could not see anyone worth my vote. A woman said that was a personal problem. I wonder if this lady even realizes the truth of her words.
We are all in deep doo-doo, and, whether you're registered voter or not, the jerks pretending to be leaders of men do not carry a big enough paddle.
Lawrence Poteet
Las Vegas
