LEGISLATIVE POKER
Among issues, Nevada’s educational problems require logical solutions, not full-day kindergarten
BY RANDI THOMPSON

Before the 2006 election, the Democrats in Congress were the party of “no.” It didn’t matter what the President or the Republicans proposed; Democrats opposed it. They seldom offered any options or ideas of their own; they just said “no” to the Republicans. 

The 2007 Nevada Legislature is starting off in a similar manner, only the Democrats are promoting their agenda, and the Republicans saying no. But Republicans are saying no because they KNOW that the Democrat proposals are bad for Nevada. 

Republicans know that full-day kindergarten is not a wise investment of our tax dollars. Numerous studies have shown that full-day kindergarten does not have lasting benefits beyond third grade. Studies have even shown that students who had full-day kindergarten become less engaged by 5th grade and actually have lower math scores. They get burned out. 

Republicans understand that SAT scores are at a 30-year low, so adding even a half a day to an educational system that is not working is not a smart move. 

While the Democrats focus on full-day kindergarten as the answer to our educational woes, Republicans wonder why they aren’t addressing this staggering statistic: Last year, 30 percent of students who started high school in Nevada didn’t finish. (The number was 50 percent for minorities.) To increase graduation rates, Republicans know that we need more vocational and technical education, better truancy intervention and more challenging courses.

Republicans know that vocational education will address the labor market in Las Vegas, which has a low demand for college professionals. Nevada businesses and Nevada’s economy will suffer if we do not increase the graduation rate because it will only exacerbate the labor shortage that is going to worsen in 10 years. Expanding vo-tech will also help ensure that more kids earn more money. High school dropouts earn, on average, $22,000 a year, while young people with bachelor’s degrees can expect to earn, on average, $50,000 a year.

Republicans know that spending $800 per student on truancy intervention and prevention will save taxpayers $800,000 in social service costs over the lifetime of that kid — not including jail time! 

Republicans know that high school teachers need to be specialists in their field if they are going to keep a student’s attention. Republicans know that a retired, successful business executive with a passion for teaching will make a better business teacher than someone with a degree in education. 

Democrats continue to block the creation of charter schools. They refuse to address merit pay for teachers and oppose school choice. Republicans know that competition improves quality and reduces costs; that good works should be rewarded; and that choice improves student performance. 

While education is the big agenda item for Democrats, there are other initiatives that Republicans will continue to oppose because they know they are wrong for Nevada. 

The Democrats want to mandate that employers take more responsibility for covering healthcare costs. Republicans know that more competition in the free-market system is a better way to provide affordable and accessible healthcare. Republicans know that more needs to be done to reduce frivolous lawsuits, but exploring options like “loser pay” will never happen as long as the Democrats run the Assembly.

Democrats want more regulation. They react to the actions of one “bad apple” and punish all business by passing unnecessary or even duplicate regulations. Republicans know that robust competition is the best way to eliminate the “bad apple.” Companies that price gouge, cheat, over charge, deceive or hurt consumers, will eventually be run out of town. More regulation isn’t needed if they would just enforce the current ones. 

While it may not seem that the Assembly Republicans have “an agenda,” I think they do — and it’s to just keep saying “no” to Democrats. And that is fine with me. 

In the game of legislative poker, Democrats have shown their cards — we know what they want. The Republicans are keeping their cards close to the vest. By not laying their agenda on the table, they are in a stronger negotiating position. If they keep this up, they just may win a few rounds.