Tue, Jan 6, 2009 (2:07 a.m.)

Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons escalated his feud with Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki on Friday, questioning a trip Krolicki took to China in his role as chairman of the state Tourism Commission.

In a news release issued late in the day, Gibbons alleged that Krolicki went shopping and sightseeing during a trip to China arranged by the commission instead of attending scheduled meetings. The headline of the inflammatory release said, “Governor demands accountability of tax money spent by tourism commission.”

In response, the commission issued a statement that said Krolicki’s trip was paid for by private companies that sent employees on the trip. In addition, the commission’s chief representative in China said Krolicki attended every meeting on his busy itinerary.

If Gibbons really wants to demand accountability, he should demonstrate what it means to be accountable. He leveled the allegations against Krolicki and the commission because they refused to rubber-stamp his attempt to illegally appoint a Reno man as the commission’s executive director. Gibbons has yet to offer any evidence to support the allegations against Krolicki or acknowledge he was wrong in his attempt to make the appointment.

If he wants to discuss use of taxpayer dollars, he should review his office’s handling of public records requests, which are routinely denied. For example, the Las Vegas Sun asked for his daily calendar to determine what the governor was doing. Instead of taking the opportunity to demonstrate Gibbons’ accountability to the voters, the governor’s office fought the request, saying his calendar was private. It eventually released only a list of some public events the governor had attended.

Recently the governor’s office has fought the Reno Gazette-Journal in court, using taxpayer money to do so. The newspaper asked for some of the governor’s e-mails and sued after being refused. The governor’s office said the messages were private, even though they were sent and received on a state computer system.

Gibbons talks big about saving taxpayers money and providing accountability, but that’s all it is — talk. Before making any more allegations, he should put his money where his mouth is.