Love or hate him, admit this guy is good

This is a story about why Gov. Brian Sandoval is one of the most deft politicians Nevada has seen in a long time.

This week, he announced that -- because of increased costs related to the health care law and the fact that he didn't want to cut education budgets any further -- he would be asking for the so-called sunset taxes to be extended yet again.

"In addition to avoiding further cuts to education, this decision means there will be no need for tax increases in the next session," Sandoval said. "Nevadans will pay no more than they are in the current biennium."

(Whether there will actually be tax increases in the next session beyond the sunsets, however, is a far different question from whether there is a "need" for them. The governor has presaged yet another status quo budget. But that's another story for another day.)

Democrats were clearly surprised, patting Sandoval on the back for his willingness to keep taxes that were supposed to expire long ago, but calling for more.

"Unfortunately, by not addressing the long-term problem and clinging to stagnant levels of education funding, the governor is only postponing the inevitable crisis that our schools and our state face," read a Democratic Party news release.

"What we need are long-term solutions to resolving our budget problems, not postponing them for another two years," said state Sen. Mo Denis. "We must address tax fairness for middle-class families, cut wasteful spending in our government and provide Nevada businesses with an educated workforce that can help compete in the national and global marketplace."

The Nevada State Education Association was similarly dismissive: "The governor must put the education of our children first instead of the needs of his big business cronies," President Lynn Warne told the Las Vegas Sun.

On the right, it was just as bad. Sandoval was denounced by the conservative Nevada Policy Research Institute, which lamented the increasingly permanent nature of supposedly temporary tax increases, and cast doubt on one of Sandoval's justifications.

"With ObamaCare, Gov. Sandoval was dealt a bad hand. Still, it is troubling that he would so quickly fold his cards. Nevada taxpayers deserve better," wrote Geoff Lawrence, NPRI's deputy policy director.

The Independent American Party joined the fray, too: "One party wants to extend taxes and the other party wants a huge tax increase," said John Wagner, state party chairman, in a statement. "The Independent American Party rejects both of these schemes as an insult to all Nevada citizens. We need to cut taxes in order to put Nevadans back to work. It is plain stupid to increase taxes during the great recession."

And conservative activist Chuck Muth slammed Sandoval for going back on his pledge to not raise taxes, which included extending temporary taxes.

"Hard lesson: No politician's word, even that a former federal judge, can ever be trusted," Muth wrote in his Silver State Confidential email newsletter. "This is why campaign promises must be put in writing to have any chance of getting any politician to keep them. And this is why having candidates sign the (Americans for Tax Reform) Taxpayer Protection Pledge is so critical in campaigns."

Tellingly, Republican state Senate leader Michael Roberson supported the governor, although he voted in 2011 against extending the temporary taxes. "I support Gov. Sandoval and his budget instructions that will not impose new tax increases on the people of Nevada," Roberson said in a statement. "Gov. Sandoval has outlined a prudent and fiscally responsible preliminary budget framework. I will stand with him and support him."

Triangulation successful! In one day, Sandoval managed to get his Democratic opponents to stake out the liberal position, get the right to criticize him (and thus make him look moderate) and convert a former skeptic, all while denying Nevadans the anticipated expiry of a $600-million-plus tax package.

It's a long way until 2014, but potential Sandoval opponents have got to be asking themselves precisely how they're going to run against one of the most skilled politicians the state has seen in a long time.

Steve Sebelius is a Review-Journal political columnist and author of the blog SlashPolitics.com. Follow him on Twitter (@SteveSebelius) or reach him at (702) 387-5276 or ssebelius@reviewjournal.com.