Sun editorial:

This is leadership?

Governor lectures legislative leaders, ignoring his own dismal record in office

Thursday, June 11, 2009 | 2:06 a.m.

During a news conference Tuesday, Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons bashed the Legislature’s Democratic leadership for the $781 million tax package that was passed over his veto.

Gibbons dismissed a question about key Republicans who voted for the tax plan, which enabled the plan to pass. Instead he singled out Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley and Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, both Las Vegas Democrats. He said the tax plan was “a result of leadership.”

Indeed, it was. Thanks to the leadership in the Legislature, the state was able to stave off critical cuts in education and vital government services that were contained in Gibbons’ proposed budget. Lawmakers approved a series of incremental tax increases to fund a basic level of essential services for the next two years.

The Legislature tried to craft a plan that would minimize the tax on individuals and small businesses, yet Gibbons has gone to great lengths to vilify lawmakers, inventing “facts” along the way.

After the session, the governor bragged that he held the Legislature in check and limited the tax increase. However, lawmakers from both parties said he did no such thing. He was largely absent and, by his own actions, he became largely irrelevant. Still, he complained that his aides were shut out of legislative discussions on the tax plan. What did he expect? He brought nothing to the table but his no-new-taxes pledge.

Despite the fact that lawmakers discussed the plan and voted on it in public, the governor ominously claimed that the tax plan was cooked up behind closed doors “in the dark of night.” This is coming from the same man who had himself sworn in as governor in a secret ceremony at his house just after midnight on Jan. 1, 2007.

Gibbons’ disingenuous and hypocritical tactics are right out of former President George W. Bush’s playbook. Like Bush, Gibbons is trying to hide his failures and make himself look good by tearing down lawmakers. It didn’t work for Bush, and it won’t work for Gibbons.

Discussion: 22 comments so far…

By late49er

6/11/09 at 6:01 a.m.

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Sum Zero is the real thing.

A legend is his own mind.

How many girlfriends does our Governor have now?

Still texting on state time, Mr. Clean.
By jlb101

6/11/09 at 6:19 a.m.

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As I recall Governor Gibbons promised in his campaign that he would not raise any tax if elected. He kept his word which very few of them do. He should be commended. I saw very little in the state budget as it was finally passed that is worth a $781 million in increased taxes to support. Thank you for your honesty Mr. Gibbons
By bbkld5

6/11/09 at 6:35 a.m.

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The governor's proposed budget included revenue from the Washoe County gas tax advisory question, a bill he promised to sign prior to the session. He flip-flopped on that promise and allowed the bill to become law without his signature.
As he included tax revenue in his budget, any discussion about tax increases must include the governor's name.
By Teaser

6/11/09 at 7:11 a.m.

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Commended? A 4-year-old can be taught to repeatedly say "no new taxes, cut budgets." It hardly takes a thinking person to do such a thing. If you want to see an example of someone with genuine leadership skills, look at George Bush Sr. If you read any of my blogs, you will immediately see that I am a liberal Democrat. However, I have very high regard for Bush Sr. because he went against his own "no new taxes" pledge and did what he realized was best for the nation. It cost him re-election. But the man had poise and put the needs of the country ahead of any myopic, self-centered, ideological viewpoint. That is an example of what is commendable.

If we put a 4-year-old in charge of Nevada, we'd probably get far better results than we have with the idiot that currently collects his salary by merely reiterating two simple phrases.
By jerhig

6/11/09 at 8:01 a.m.

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Had Goverrnor Gibbons not stood at the gate, no telling what this legislature would have saddled us with in taxes. While he may not be adored by the tax and spenders, he stuck to his promise of no taxes. As time goes on Nevadans will appreciate his resolve.
By neiman1

6/11/09 at 8:33 a.m.

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Wonderful for everyone that lives off the taxes collected. Horrible for everyone that works hard, tries to stay above water, and pays the taxes.

Most of the payment will go to people that make more than the poor slobs paying the taxes.
By ksand99

6/11/09 at 10:10 a.m.

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Gibbons broke his word to every citizen of Nevada.

He swore to veto ANY and ALL tax increases, then turned around and demanded tax increases in his own budget.

He didn't do a thing when the room rate tax bill hit his desk. Nope, no veto! He allowed it to become law. His word is worthless.

Nevadans need to hold this liar accountable in 2010!
By DouglasDemocrat

6/11/09 at 12:27 p.m.

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jerhig and jlb101:

Gibbons own proposed budget included the room tax hike that ksand99 mentions. When that bill hit his desk, he didn't veto it.

When a bill raising fees to pay for more judges in Clark County hit his desk, he didn't veto that one either.

So tell me again - HOW exactly is Gibbons keeping his promise on "no new taxes" and no new fees? That's two that he could have thwarted with a stroke of the pen, but chose not to.
By CarsonNewshound

6/11/09 at 3:12 p.m.

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It is quite obvious that many of Gibbons' supporters have NO CLUE how government works, the range and costs of services that are critical to life itself, our public safety, the future of our children, to name just a few. Governor Gibbons is insensitive to the point of cruelty upon the people he promised to protect and to serve. The man is a deep, dark embarrassment.
By truthfromreason

6/11/09 at 4:18 p.m.

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Interesting that there are some Gibbons supporters posting comments. Congratulations, you are part of the twenty percent that approve of his job. Twenty percent of adults also have herpes. I'm not suggesting the two are related, but it is an interesting coincidence.

But seriously, I am sure on some level his stand against raising taxes (hypocritical as it is considering the room tax in his budget and his insistence on defacto tax raises on public workers through pay cuts) is appealing to some segments of the population, so I guess I can understand that some people would approve of his job. I try to rationalize how it is possible, but it is difficult though. It's like trying to figure out why some people still have mullets. The only conclusion I can come to is that they want to be all business up front and still be able to party in the back.
By Houstonjac

6/11/09 at 4:41 p.m.

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Thanks to Gibbons for doing what he pledged to do. Kool aid drinking liberals will take this state straight to financial hell. Gibbons will not. Tighten belts and suck it up. Look at California, and be glad you are in Nevada!
By ksand99

6/11/09 at 4:43 p.m.

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Gibbons swore he would veto all tax increases. He didn't. Guess that's the new definition of "doing what he pledged to do!"

Oh republicans and their double standards...
By truthfromreason

6/11/09 at 4:47 p.m.

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Thanks for all the right wing cliches Houston, real helpful. Please, if I hear one more conservadittohead spout out California as an example I'm going to plunge a pencil in my ears. California has a poplulation of 38 million people. Their problems are far more complex than our little cow-town state. The situations are not even close or comparable. Why don't you look at states like MN or WA and get back to us.
By truthfromreason

6/11/09 at 4:49 p.m.

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If Gibbons runs again I'll vote for him and hope he wins. It will be a good experiment to see how horribly wrong things can go in a state when the reckless irresponsibility of such an ideaology is put to practice. Las Vegas is already an experiment in social and economic Darwinism, so why not?
By Harley

6/11/09 at 6:24 p.m.

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If I was governor I would have criminalized taxation.
By getalife

6/11/09 at 7:38 p.m.

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I was at a meeting yesterday and a State Assembly person was there talking about the "revenue enhancements" and this person actually said that based on the budget the governor put forward that UNR or UNLV would have to close (I almost choked on my lunch when this person said this absolutely and patently false misrepresentation)

I am not defending the Gov but this liberal tax (oops, revenue enhancement) scheme is going to hurt everyone of us.

We should not be asking for more goverment employees we should be asking for more bang from our dollars.

In my line of work I can hit a customer just once with a big price tag then I lose that customer.

In the world of spend more expect less the Libs prevail.
By truthfromreason

6/11/09 at 9:51 p.m.

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Harley, if you were Governor we would all need guns and survival supplies for the inevitable anarchy that would arise as a result of statewide collapse. You might be a step up from Gibbons though.
By truthfromreason

6/11/09 at 9:53 p.m.

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Liberal this, libs that. Do any of you even know what the word liberal means?
By Harley

6/11/09 at 11:37 p.m.

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"Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision".

"Has man any right to exist if he refuses to serve society?"

"The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities."

"Has man any right to exist if he refuses to serve society?"

"The government was set to protect man from criminals and the Constitution was written to protect man from government."

"Has man any right to exist if he refuses to serve society?"

"The problem with socialism is sooner or later you run out of other peoples money to spend."

"Has man any right to exist if he refuses to serve society?"

"All progress has results from those who took unpopular positions."

"Has man any right to exist if he refuses to serve society?"

"Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision".
By Harley

6/11/09 at 11:49 p.m.

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"Power is not defeated at the end of a gun but rather by the truth in the end."
By truthfromreason

6/12/09 at 8:53 a.m.

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I have one for you - One resorts to quoting others when one lacks original thought.

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