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StumbleDemocrats renew stimulus funds feud with governor
One lawmaker said issue might have to be resolved by Nevada Supreme Court
Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009 | 4:49 p.m.
Gov. Jim Gibbons
Sun Coverage
CARSON CITY – Legislative Democrats resumed their feud Thursday with Gov. Jim Gibbons over the spending of millions of dollars in federal stimulus money.
One lawmaker, at a meeting of the Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee, suggested the issue might ultimately have to be resolved by the Nevada Supreme Court.
Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, said the governor doesn’t think the committee has the authority to oversee the spending and that the Gibbons administration has broken the law in the handling of the money.
But Lynn Hettrick, deputy chief of staff for Gibbons, responded to Coffin’s remarks, calling them “inappropriate.” Coffin should file suit if he doesn’t agree that the governor is acting legally, Hettrick said.
Coffin said later that the legality of the interim committee must be resolved by the Supreme Court. The committee handles state money matters when the Legislature is out of session.
When Gibbons ran into objections by the finance committee in approving the spending of the stimulus fund, the governor declared all the federal money would be spent under emergency powers — freeing him to do what he chooses without the approval of the finance committee.
The finance committee, at its last meeting, refused to approve the plans of Gibbons to spend the money. And that has sparked harsh words between the two branches of government.
The committee, at its Thursday meeting, reviewed the spending of more than $45 million in stimulus money on 16 programs. The committee could not approve or reject the plans because of the governor’s emergency declaration.
Still, committee Democrats were not happy.
Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said the object was to get the millions of dollars “on the street as quickly as possible.” But she said there was not an emergency in many cases in spending the money without review by lawmakers.
She said the administration was “playing fast and loose” with the designation of this spending as an emergency.
For instance, she said there was no emergency to spend $430,895 for three new substance abuse counselors in Las Vegas for the parole and probation program.
Hettrick said this federal money was being spent “for the protection of property.”
Buckley questioned what would happen in the 2011 Legislature when it comes time to provide money to pay for these three officers from the state funds. There will be a shortfall for the Legislature to deal with in 18 months.
Hettrick said the three positions would not be funded in the next budget.
Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, complained that much of the money was going out of state and not going to hire people in Nevada. In one case, a California firm is going to be hired.
Horsford said “You need to be diligent” in using this money to hire out-of-state firms. “There are a lot of people in Nevada that can do this work.” But state officials said in many cases these out-of-state firms are the only ones qualified to handle the work.
In another item, the legislative committee agreed to allow the Aging and Disability Services Division to reduce the senior citizens’ property tax assistance because of a shortage of money. The average grant will be reduced $6 to $329 for 16,375 low income senior citizens.
The lawmakers also got more bad financial news. Chuck Duarte, chief of the Medicaid program, said that program would be an estimated $30 million short during the next two years because of growth in enrollment.
The program provides medical care for the indigent.
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"It's good to be King", says Gym Gibbons.
"I may not know what the heck I'm doing, but someone will tell me. Er...at least that's what Sig told me when I ran for the job."
Send the money back to Washington and with a note telling that pathetic excuse for a President where he can shove it.
Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, complained that much of the money was going out of state and not going to hire people in Nevada. In one case, a California firm is going to be hired.
Gibbons AGAIN is working as hard as he can AGAINST the citizens of Nevada.
Clearly, it is an exercise in manipulating the system for his own purposes--whatever those might be. As someone new to this State, I am having a very difficult time trying to figure out just why the Gov would not want to stimulate the economy of this State as intended. What course has he chosen for the funds that he believes is more important than the citizens of Nevada? Why would anyone want to reduce help to those in most need in order to shift funds elsewhere? Is it because these people will probably not vote in the next election or is he beyond caring at this point; with a clear understanding that he will NOT be re-elected so he needs to grease whatever palms have decided to assist him?
The federal government has offered billions to Nevada to stimulate our economy. We have hundreds of road construction projects that need to be begun/completed.
But this is typical of the republicans. They whine that Reid doesn't get us enough. They whine that he's done nothing for our economy.
Then, they whine when he gets us money and demand that we turn the money down!
The republicans are more than just leaderless, they're schizophrenic!
ksand, Reid didn't do any of us any favors with the stimulus. If you are not aware, all states with the exception of Alaska,got stimulus money for their respective states. Who said we didn't get enough? Why don't you just be honest and admit Gibbons and Reid are both pathetic representatives for this state? Who cares if one is dem and the other is repub, they are both worthless.
Lipton:
Ensign and Gibbons are the ones who said we didn't get enough. Of course, that was after Ensign voted "no" on the stimulus.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/mar...
The democrats are now fighting the funding for drug abuse counselors? This is a new one. Nothing but a political stunt where the legislators want to earmark the money to their supporters, like ACORN.
The legislature is afraid to challenge the issue in court as they may find they have NO power when not is session.
As far as the budget being short, I think the Governor told them that over and over and they did as they pleased. Now he will fix it. They say he can't win re election so he will do it within his view and let the voters have their say in November next year.
Again, the damn Democrats. I'm so ready to get rid of these guys.
One day America will wake up and realize that all government, D or R has become corrupt. You dangle some taxpayer dollars and their mouths foam as they wrestle in a frenzy like dogs. It's not their money. Look at yesterdays article with Reid: "plan won't work for my cashless broke state". Why is the state broke? Don't get off on this health-care nonsense, because "all" the plans don't do anything till 2013. What happens till then? Weed out corruption, both parties, they're a joke.
Governor Jim needs to return the money back to D.C. with a note "thanks, but no thanks, keep my taxes the same".
I love reading your liberal lunatics posts. You are sick little pathetic people.
When you lunatics stop sucking off the system and practice what you preach then you might be taken seriously, until then you are worthless.
thank you shannon for the link, but, the Sun is bias to the extreme.I do think Gibbons initially said he didn't want it either. All you that would rather rob the low state employee of pay, not their fault by the way, go to the top and stop it there.There is alot of waste that doesn't have anything to do with wages for state employees. As long as it doesn't affect your paycheck, you are just fine with Gibbons doing what he does. He is worthless, and I'm a conservative, proud of it but embarrassed by our gov. Flat tax rate for all residents.