Assembly passes non-controversial taxes before stalemating again

The Assembly passed out another $31 million worth of non-controversial revenue-raising measures Friday.

Those included approving electronic tax collection and reducing the percentage of alcohol, cigarette and sales taxes retailers are allowed to keep for the trouble of collecting them.

With the Secretary of State's fees approved Thursday, that comes to $75 million more revenue over the biennium.

Everything came to a halt again when the Democratic majority proposed a bill increasing gaming, cigarette and liquor taxes, adding a half-percent to the gross tax paid by casinos and a 4 percent bank franchise fee.

The Republican caucus rejected the franchise fee saying they would prefer a payroll tax on banks.

Majority Leader Barbara Buckley pointed out that the fixed fee is not tied to profits and marginally profitable banks could be hurt by it, much as marginally profitable businesses would have been hit by the gross receipts tax the Republicans opposed for that very reason.

But they refused to budge and negotiations again stalled.

Buckley said the Republicans were making no effort to compromise.

"You can't have it all your way," she said. "I'll give. What will you give?"

She repeatedly asked members of the Republican caucus to answer that question but got none. She said the major areas where cuts would reduce the need for taxes are teacher and state worker salaries, Senior Rx and Nevada Check Up for child health care. She asked for a show of hands for those willing to cut each of those and, again, got no takers.

Assemblyman John Carpenter, R-Elko, said there must be room for cuts in a $5 billion general fund budget.

"I just know with that big a budget, we can get down to $704 million," he said referring to the amount of taxes needed to balance the budget.

The existing budget requires $860 million in added taxes.

Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, said the Republican members participated and raised almost no major cuts. Morse Arberry, D-Las Vegas, said those other members almost never appeared before the committee except to ask for additions to the budget.

"We worked our butts off to give you a balanced budget," he said emphasizing that he doesn't believe there is much fat in the budget.

Unable to pass the bill with the tax on financial institutions in it, they put the measure on the desk until today.