Editorial: My way or the highway

Thursday, May 24, 2007 | 6:53 a.m.

Gov. Jim Gibbons would make any schoolyard bully proud with his threat to veto the state budget if lawmakers don't give him what he wants.

If that juvenile attitude was not stunning enough, consider Gibbons' top priorities behind his threat: a boot camp for high school dropouts , a minor change in the state payroll tax , an unnecessary anti-terrorism center in Carson City , and a miniature version of his unworkable school empowerment program.

These are priorities? Where is highway funding to ease gridlock or real help for public schools or just about anything else important in the state?

Gibbons is trying to bully the Legislature. By placing his own wants above the state's needs, he is putting a $7 billion two-year budget - including schools, highways and needed social services - in jeopardy.

Gibbons is willing to hold up the entire state budget if he doesn't get his way regarding the following programs and policies:

The Legislature should call his bluff, much as it has so far, denying Gibbons' half-baked and inane proposals. It would come as a surprise to only Gibbons, who told a news conference Wednesday that every time he goes to the Legislature, "I come back with the idea that they're not listening or they don't hear this."

It is no wonder why. Maybe he should try holding his breath until he passes out, or stamping his feet, or crying.

Or maybe he should take his ball, go home and let the adults finish the budget.