It's a rebate, not a social program

Just as we feared, the grumbling is getting louder over Gov. Kenny Guinn's proposal to refund up to $300 for every vehicle registered in Nevada.

Guinn reiterated his plan during his State of the State address on Monday night. To hear some of the critics, you would think he was sticking his hand in their pockets and stealing their money.

Wrong. The state already stuck its hand in our pockets and took our money. Guinn wants to give some back.

But now that the $300 million in Guinn's proposal belongs to state government, legislators are practically falling over each other trying to come up with ways to spend it.

"I have faith that the families of Nevada know best how to spend this $300 million," Guinn said in his speech.

Hear, hear.

Probably the idea making the most sense is $100 million for the Millennium Scholarship fund. The governor has called for a $100 million bond issue to shore up the fund, but that will cost interest. It seems like a wise investment to use $100 million of the surplus instead.

Still, there is a lot to be said for pumping $300 million back into the Nevada economy through the vehicle-registration refund. It's a gesture of gratitude and goodwill, not to mention the simple fairness of giving back taxes that weren't needed.

Some Democrats have complained that rebates aren't really fair at all, saying the owner of a Hummer would get $300 back, while people driving lesser vehicles would get much less and people who don't own a vehicle won't get anything.

The inference is that the rich will get a windfall and the poor will get crumbs.

Perhaps we're being old-fashioned, but we didn't realize Nevada government's role was to take from the well-to-do and give to the underprivileged. This is a tax rebate, not a wealth redistribution program. People will get back what they paid - unless they paid more than $300 in vehicle fees.

Even with the rebate, Guinn's $5.7 billion budget plan remains the most expensive in state history. That's due mainly to a growing population and galloping economy. Can the Legislature try not to be too greedy?