Governor Kenny Guinn Term Paper

Governor Kenny Guinn Should Not Be Recalled

There is a move afoot in the Silver State of Nevada to recall Governor Kenny Guinn. The movement is a copycat style of recall in the same vein as California's successful recall effort; run by a group of Nevadans who believe Governor Guinn acted inappropriately when he ordered the intervention of the Nevada Supreme Court in the controversial tax measure that was stalled in the State Legislature. Guinn initially proposed the largest tax increase in state history when he proposed his state budget in January 2003. A core group of lawmakers in the Nevada Assembly disagreed with the tax increase, and refused to vote the proposed budget, with its attached tax increases, into effect, and so the Legislature had to continue in special session after the regular session term expired. "After months of debate, two special sessions and a landmark Nevada Supreme Court decision prompted by Guinn's request for intervention, lawmakers approved a record $836 million in tax increases" (Almeida). Guinn ordered the Supreme Court to intervene and force the legislators back to the bargaining table to end the impasse, and many conservatives felt he had overstepped his bounds, and acted against the State Constitution, which is the basis of the recall movement.The recall group, called the "Recall Kenny Guinn Exploratory Committee" has a Web Site with information on where to sign the petitions they have drafted to recall the governor, and a laundry list of reasons why Guinn should be recalled. The most important reason, they believe, is Guinn's tax increases on the state, as the site states here: "After only 4 years under Guinn's management, this surplus melted in to a deficit. Now 'Taxing Kenny' wants you to pay for his mismanagement" (Editors). The recall group needs to gather "128,109 signatures, or 25% of those who cast ballots in the 2002 general election" (Almeida). However, recent polls have shown that most Nevada residents do not support the recall efforts. "A Reno Gazette-Journal/KRNV-TV poll found 68% opposed recall efforts targeting Guinn and six Nevada Supreme Court justices. Twenty- four percent supported it, and 8% were unsure. The poll had an error margin of 4 percentage points" (Almeida). In addition, the recall could cost Nevada counties nearly two million dollars. "The counties would have to raise about $2 million to hold a special election to recall….....