Once again Guinn slaps
Nevada Republicans in the face

by George Harris

With his latest appointment of Las Vegas Democrat Peter Bernhard to the Gaming Commission chairmanship, Guinn's actions show his disdain towards Republicans. "Guinn awarded the $55,000 a-year, part-time job as a political payoff to his longtime pal Democrat fundraiser Frank Schreck," said an insider who requested anonymity.

Another source said that Guinn's appointments of Democrats to key positions over the last few weeks is an indication that the Governor is laying the groundwork to change parties after he's reelected. The source, requesting anonymity, also said, "It's no secret within political circles that Kenny doesn't think much of conservatives, especially religious conservatives."

Guinn passed over a highly qualified African American for the gaming commission position. Las Vegas attorney John Bailey, who is the son of Republican civil rights leader Bob Bailey, served as the General Counsel for the Nevada Republican Party and was the obvious choice of State Republicans.

Whose Fault Is It?

Well, it's definitely our fault, yours and mine, because we have continually allowed Gov. Guinn to weaken our Party without taking any action. Gov. Guinn and his handlers Sig Rogich, Peter Ernaut, Steve Wark and others over the past three years have co-mingled Republican and Democrat values so much, that the average person can't tell the difference between a Democrat or Republican—allowing Guinn and Company to ensure the status quo for their financial backers: Gaming and the unions.

For Gaming he is has been their puppet for reaching their long-term goal of redistributing their tax burden onto the families and small businesses of Nevada. For the union bosses, he has ensured their continued control of labor throughout the state in return for their endorsements and membership vote.

Why Do State Republicans Continue to Support the "Flim Flam Man" Kenny Guinn?

In most cases, it's just about being able to say "I'm friends with the Governor." It's called the "celebrity syndrome" and unfortunately there are a lot of Republicans who suffer from it, and it's this continual support of Kenny Guinn that allows him to manipulate his agenda onto the Republicans, while he destroys the foundation of Republican principles. The best thing Republicans can do is stop being fooled by this "flim flam man" and take a good look at why they joined the Republican Party in the first place. If you do that, I think you'll return to your fundamental beliefs and understand it's time to make a change from Kenny Guinn.

I can't do it for you and neither can your friends. It's time you stand up and send a message to the Governor that you won't be supporting him in the future. Call the Governor at 486-2500 and let him know you're not happy. Then call the State Republican Headquarters at 258-9184 and let Bob Seale know you're not happy, because one thing is for sure --- if Kenny stays in power, Republicans will have nothing to say.

One last thing, it was just over 20 years ago that a United States Senator named Harry Reid sat on the Gaming Control Board. I sure hope Kenny's choice doesn't produce an opponent for John Ensign in his next election. Let me tell you, I don't look forward to hearing the name Senator Peter Bernhard...

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Union Bosses Live High Off the Hog, While Members Face Unemployment Lines

In the wake of the September 11, terrorist attacks, gaming giants like MGM-Mirage and Bally's contacted Culinary union bosses with the idea of reducing hours of union members to avoid layoffs. Subsequent talks drew the wrath of union bosses, who accused gamers of trying to violate the terms of union contracts. That left gaming executives with no choice but to lay off workers. First was MGM-Mirage with 6.000, followed by Mandalay Resorts, at 4,500 and Park Place Entertainment, at 1,500. There were thousands more from downtown resorts.

At the same time that union hotels were laying off workers, the non-union hotels — that union leadership always accuse of paying substandard wages (even when the wages are higher) — haven't laid off employees, because they haven't been constrained by union contracts. This gave them the ability to sit down with their employees and work through the crisis — reducing hours and hanging shift patterns, which enabled workers to keep their jobs. This unconventional method of managing sure shoots holes in the union bosses’ argument that, without unionizing, workers will have no job security.

Union bosses will argue that the hotels I'm talking about are off the Strip and not affected like the strip hotels who depend on tourists rather than locals. However, that's not the case; many non-union hotels like the Imperial Palace have announced no layoffs, and gaming giant Venetian Resorts has held laid offs to 100 out of a workforce of approximately 4,700 employees — while at the same time announcing that all senior executives would take reductions in pay.

But, amid all this, consider what you're not hearing. During this time of crisis do you hear any union bosses announcing the suspension of dues payments for unemployed members? Or do you hear that union bosses are willing to take a pay cut to ensure that those unemployed workers dues are paid? According to the latest LM-2 forms which the government requires that all unions report, all their expenditures and salaries of officers show that local Culinary local 226 bosses could afford pay cuts to help members through these hard times. In fact, most members would be astonished by the salaries union bosses receive while they're forced to live on unemployment checks. According to the report, Jim Arnold takes home a whopping $145,714 per year while Glen Arnodo and James Bonaventure take home just under a $100,000 year. But the big bonanza goes to D. Taylor with an estimated $220, 000 per year.

So, let's get this straight; you join a union and pay $60 a month in dues and you're the first to lose your job while your union bosses are living high of the hog on your dues payments. Conversely, that non-union “scab” down the street is still working because his boss cuts the pay of all executives so employees won't be laid off!

Union bosses — who frankly don't do anything in the first place — have put themselves in a catch 22. Because now things have changed and they are facing 15,000 unemployed workers who want to take a chunk out of their asses and suddenly union bosses have to produce for their membership.

Their great plans? Have their members vote on a reduced work week, and then run back to the gaming executives with "their plan" of a 32-hour work week with the rehiring of all laid off union members. The only problem, of course, is that it was casino executives who originally proposed cutting back shifts to 32 hours, and it was the union bosses who balked. Of course, now that other programs have been put in place to ensure the continued employment of existing employees, union bosses are squealing like pigs and Culinary Political Director Glen Arnodo is accusing gaming executives of foul play by not rehiring union members.

Well, union bosses, you can't have it both ways. You can't piss on casino executives’ legs and then tell your membership it's raining. You've made your beds and now you have to answer to your membership. If I was in your shoes, I'd be leaving town ahead of an angry mob of 15,000.

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