TIME FOR WORK
Judge allows TASC signature gathering to begin

State Sen. Bob Beers, Republican candidate for governor, claimed a victory for Nevada taxpayers March 3 after Judge William Maddox approved a retooled version of the Tax and Spending Control (TASC) initiative's summary description. The ruling effectively rebuked a government employee union lawsuit that attempted to prevent the initiative from appearing on the November ballot.

The TASC Committee has already started gathering the necessary signatures to get the initiative on the ballot. The group must collect 83,184 signatures by June 20.

"Today is a great day for Nevada because we retain our right to vote on this important issue," Beers said after the ruling. "TASC assures Nevada taxpayers the opportunity to vote on tax and spending hikes that exceed reasonable growth."

TASC limits government spending hikes to the percentage of population growth plus inflation, unless voters approve an additional increase. The initiative was filed last year by Beers, who is the only one of five gubernatorial candidates - three Republicans and two Democrats - to support it.

"Politicians and special interests do not like TASC, and it was satisfying to see this lawsuit fail." Beers said. "Today's ruling was a victory for working Nevadans who have been increasingly taxed by our out-of-control government, and a blow against those who profit from tax and spend hikes."

The suit erroneously alleged 30 instances of misleading language in the 200-word summary description of the initiative.

"The judge's ruling truly demonstrates that this lawsuit was nothing more than an attempt by special interest groups to prevent Nevadans from their right to vote," Beers said. "These special interest groups, as well as people like Congressman Gibbons, are hoping Nevadans will never have the opportunity to decide their own destiny by holding the line on government spending." LW