With $10 million in tax money burning a hole their pocket, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) awarded funds to several companies planning to move to Nevada and set up shop and, well, compete against those who paid those taxes.
As recounted in this week’s newspaper column, available online at The Ely Times and the Elko Daily Free Press, the money comes from Nevada’s $10 million Catalyst Fund.
The largest handout went to SolarCity. The company installs solar panels at homes, businesses and government agencies. It is getting $1.2 million and says it plans “to initially create more than 100 jobs” by opening an office in Las Vegas.
SolarCity workers install residential rooftop solar panels. (Photo by SolarCity
Company founder Elon Musk is a big contributor to Democratic campaigns in general and to President Obama and Sen. Harry Reid in particular. According to one news account, GOED board member Secretary of State Ross Miller fawned, “You had me at Elon Musk,” while voting to award the handout.
Musk’s electronic car company Tesla received a federal loan guarantee for $465 million, but has lost or written off more than $1 billion. Musk’s SpaceX gets $1 billion in NASA funding.
“Musk symbolizes the Obama entrepreneur — someone who relies on government to make their riches as opposed to the marketplace,” the Western Center for Journalism observed. Add Nevada riches to the list.
Yes, here are your tax dollars in action, helping someone else try to take your job.
4TH ST8 
I just phoned the Office of Economic Development. I asked where the $10 million Catalyst Fund originated, and why Solar City was awarded $1.2 million. “Ana” was extremely unresponsive, and I asked if there was someone else who could answer. She replied that that person was “traveling,” and that they would be “traveling” for some time.
She did not want to talk to me, and made it plain from the time I identified myself. She said she “didn’t have time to go through all this stuff with [me]”–before I even told her why I was calling. Cold, rude, and unresponsive to members of the public. That’s our Office of the Governor.
They don’t have to answer to us peons.
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Musk contributes to Democrats and gets money in return. The Koch Brothers contribute large amounts to Republicans and also get money in return. It’s called freedom of sdpeech by the Supreme Court, but not by me.
“Cold, rude, and unresponsive to members of the public.” describes many of the public workers who interface with the public. For one very easy example, go to the DMV. They have all those “YES WE CAN HELP” posters up but their attitudes certainly don’t reflect the poster message.
Unlike most liberal contributors, conservative ones are not exclusive to conservative interest. David Koch (I believe you mentioned the Koch brothers, Rincon?) is a major named contributor on at least one PBS program. Ever hear of NOVA?
http://watchdogprogressive.com/2011/04/the-curious-case-of-nova-and-david-h-koch/
Then you left leaners and libs just have to make it all about some crazy wingnut conspiracy. (That has a ring of familiarity about it…wonder where I have heard that before….)
Big deal. Koch donates to one TV show. Elon Musk has pledged a minimum of 50% of his fortune to charity. http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/04/19/buffett/
There’s no conspiracy. I’m just saying that although we all have the freedom to complain about politicians showering favors onto their contributors, it’s an American tradition, codofied into law with a wink from the Supreme Court.
[…] the name Elon Musk is known to make Nevada politicians swoon. Perhaps you recall how the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) this past year […]
[…] the name Elon Musk is known to make Nevada politicians swoon. Perhaps you recall how the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) this past year […]
[…] the name Elon Musk is known to make Nevada politicians swoon. Perhaps you recall how the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) this past year […]
[…] the name Elon Musk is known to make Nevada politicians swoon. Perhaps you recall how the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) this past year doled […]
[…] to open an office in Nevada for rooftop solar installations, then-Secretary of State Ross Miller fawned, “You had me at Elon Musk,” while voting to award the […]
[…] years ago the Governor’s Office of Economic Development doled out $1.2 million to entice rooftop solar panel installer SolarCity to open an office in Nevada and create […]