Students' pro-tax valentines criticized by some Nevada lawmakers

LAS VEGAS -- Thousands of valentines have been sent to Gov. Kenny Guinn and lawmakers, and not everyone is happy about it.

At the urging of their teachers, Las Vegas-area students from all grade levels created the brightly-colored valentines urging the officials to raise taxes to fund education.

Lawmakers are considering Guinn's $1 billion tax increase plan to deal with a $700 million two-year state budget deficit as well as education and other needs.

"Please raise my mommy's taxes," one student wrote. "Please raise taxes so we can focus on our dreams and do what we love," another wrote.

But Republican state Sens. Sandra Tiffany of Henderson and Barbara Cegavske of Las Vegas said they think the valentines are an inappropriate lobbying effort by teachers.

"I don't think children should be used to lobby the Legislature on behalf of the teachers' interests," Tiffany told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "I think it's an inappropriate use of children's time."

Cegavske said it's one thing to have students debate issues or discuss taxes, but that both sides need to be presented.

"Legislators love it when kids are involved, but not when it's something somebody is telling them to say or do," Cegavske said. "How many parents knew their kids were doing this? Did they approve or disapprove?"

But community activist Louise Helton, who came up with idea to send the valentines, said the effort was not out of line.

"I don't view it as the children being used," she said. "I think children's voices do need to be heard, and this was a wonderful opportunity for them to have a voice on something critical for their future."

Marcia Neel, the Clark County School District's coordinator of secondary fine arts programs, asked art teachers to encourage students to support the effort.

"Financial support from our Legislature is vital to the future of (district) art programs," she said. "When funding and budget cuts are discussed, fine arts, activities and athletics are always on the chopping block. Students involved in art education need to make their voices heard by the Nevada Legislature."

Jackie Brantley, Guinn's director of constituent services, said thousands of valentines were sent to the governor. "(They) will mean so much to him and keep him going forward," she said.

Several hundred valentines were sent to the Legislature.

"Many were signed by every member of the class. There were thousands of signatures," said Lorne Malkiewich, director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.