The first major bellwether tax vote of the session …

By Jon Ralston (contact)

Monday, Feb. 23, 2009 | 2 a.m.

The first major bellwether tax vote of the session could come this week and next as the Gang of 63 takes up that room tax question Gov. Jim Gibbons used to fill a nearly $300 million hole in his budget. Many lawmakers — Democrats and Republicans — are loath to vote against the tax because that would force them to find $300 million in cuts or taxes. Many simply want to vote for the room tax and move on. But some conservatives see this as a test of GOP anti-tax philosophy and are pushing Republicans to vote no, which would kill it in the Senate. Some even suggest Gibbons broke his anti-tax pledge by proposing it. Adding to this edgy mix is some gaming companies don’t support it. This will be fun to watch.