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StumbleGibbons, lawmakers search for common ground on budget
Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010 | 5:48 p.m.
Sun Archives
- Gibbons to call special session, lawmakers plan public meetings (1-25-10)
- New economic reality: Pessimism (1-23-10)
- State budget comes up $800 million short (1-22-10)
- Forecast: Economy will begin to rebound in mid-2011 (1-22-10)
- Gibbons’ no-talk order further divides branches (1-22-10)
- Special session may require help of state Supreme Court (1-10-10)
Gov. Jim Gibbons and legislative leaders met for about two hours Tuesday on the state's budget shortfall, with both sides describing a productive round of talks but offering no details about how they will solve the state's latest budget gap.
Gibbons said the budget deficit has reached $900 million for the current budget cycle, a massive figure that both Democrats and Republicans say will mean major cuts in state spending.
"It was a very good working meeting," Gibbons told reporters after the meeting.
Asked if the Legislature and governor would get along during the special session, Gibbons said: "Absolutely." Motioning to Speaker Barbara Buckley who was watching, he said: "The Speaker has my promise."
Buckley struck a more cautious note, saying "legislative leaders and the governor will be working together on the budget deficit. What we face is nothing short of sobering."
She said there would have to be a 22 percent cut across the board to make up for the $900 million shortfall, if instituted on March 1. On Monday, she told the Las Vegas Sun that legislators have identified about $150 million in funds that could be swept and other one-time fixes. Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio said "we're certainly looking at serious cuts with a $900 million shortfall."
Buckley said there was no discussion about opting out of the Medicaid system, as the governor has asked staff to look into.
Buckley said the governor has promised to turn over the 6, 8 and 10 percent proposed cuts to lawmakers either Friday or Monday.
There was discussion of the state's furlough plan. "There's a lack of equity," Buckley said. Some employees take their furlough day and then collect overtime the next week. She said there must be a system to avoid abuse.
Legislators and governor will meet again on Feb. 2. The Interim Finance Committee will meet Feb. 3 and 4 to begin hearings. She said the governor will turn over his budget suggestions close to Feb. 8, when he gives his address.
Buckley suggested the session would take a "couple of days." Buckley said the governor promised not to set the special session date without consulting lawmakers.
Gibbons and the Legislature, both Democrats and Republicans, have had a rocky relationship during Gibbons' three-plus years in office. In the last session, he was almost never in the legislative building pushing policies or meeting with lawmakers.
He has recently criticized the Legislature's tax increase, over his veto, for many of the state's economic problems.
"I celebrate the same idea," Gibbons said, when asked for his response to legislators' resistance to raising taxes.
When Gibbons was asked about his plan to impose a trash fee to force higher recycling standards, Gibbons said it was a worthy idea, but one that probably needed to be vetted in a regular session.
The state's part-time Legislature next meets in February 2011.
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only common is to get rid of the S.O.B
KEEP THEM ALL IN SESSION UNTIL THIS IS FIXED.
EVERY LAST ONE.
THEY SIGNED ON FOR IT.
TOO BAD IF THIS DOESN'T MEET THEIR 'SCHEDULING NEEDS'.
TOO BAD. TOO BAD. TOO BAD.
Oh, and Boo-hoo-hoo, poor lil' babies need a tissue....
The Governor actually stayed the entire two hours this time? Wow, progress for Gibbons to actually talk to legislators.
When are the demorats going to remind the voters that the budget the governor is dealing with was their budget????
They are going to continue to deceive the voters with short memories who have forgotten that the original budget prepared by the Gov. Gibbons was veto'd by all of the demorats and the RINO Dennis Nolan(R)!!!
This budget that was forced upon the governor did not take any economic issues into consideration while they were intent on following the idiots in the District of Criminals who were at the same time screwing up our national economy with their massive spending and the subsequent massive increases to our national deficit!
Governor Gibbons should not be held responsible for the problems caused to this state by the entire contingency of the demorats who veto'd his budget and implemented the current budget of which we are dealing with!!
You people have such God-awful memories!!!
I do hope you don't vote, for if you do, then you need to study the issues and to research the candidates. If you do, then you will realize the problems we are facing are all via the demorats!!!
This coming year, we must vote for the Independent American Party of Nevada candidates for this state at all levels,from county to state!!!
The other two parties have proven their incompetence and it is now time to give the people a third party who is actually comprised of citizens who are fed up with the corruption of the two parties, the demorats, who liberalism and socialism is destroying American. Then we have the sexually addicted republicans who browse the airport bathrooms and their own staffer's wives for sex!!!
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!! I AM VOTING FOR ONLY THE INDEPENDENT AMERICAN PARTY OF NEVADA CANDIDATES AT ALL LEVELS TO INCLUDE DRAMATICALLY THE CLARK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND SO FORTH!!!
We have to get rid of the corrupt Susan Brager (D) of the District F of Clark County. Rory Reid is on his way out, now he needs to carry the trash with him out the door as well!
Today's price for gold (ounce) = 1,097.15
The national debt will stress the markets even further in the future.
By June Gold could be $1,500 per ounce.
8 million ounces sold = $12 Billion in sales and $8 Billion in profits
If Nevada got 5% of gross sales that would equal $600 million dollars PER YEAR or 1.2 billon over 2 years.
Palin, the conservative from Alaska, is at least smart enough to tax the oil companies and not give their resources away. We are just idiots.
Heres an Idea take the 900 million the banks gave back when the feds ordered them to start loaning money, and Bailout Nevada
The welfare and unemployment offices are running at triple capacity now imagine a 25% across the board cut and ripple effect when you need their services most
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon voters have given their approval to measures that raise taxes on businesses and the wealthy. $750 Million dollars per year!
The tightwads in Oregon are not letting their state get flushed into the sewer! Good for them!
What are businesses in Oregon going to do? Move to Nevada- not hardly! Who would come a state with the worst education system in the Nation- NOBODY!
HERE IT IS, AGAIN:
THE OFFICIAL OIL TAX IN ALASKA IS
25%.
MINIMUM BY STATE LAW.
HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY IT...?
25% 25% 25% 25% 25% 25% 25% 25% 25% 25%
Raising taxes didn't work in the past, it won't work now. Raising taxes only led Nevada to spend more money to expand government at an unsustainable rate. Nevada needs adult decisions - we need to cut the budget.
PS, 40 years ago, the price of gold was under $200 an ounce. Gold fluctuates with the market, rising in value during times of economic trouble and falling when times are good. So, this tax won't raise as much as advocates think. Second, gross receipts taxes are very harmful. Third, taxing someone just because they can't leave just sounds mean - what are you some kind of thug?
Legislators put together a budget during the last session that was meant to prevent the draconian cuts that the governor proposed in his budget. I'm sure that they'll work together during a special session to ensure that the results of this budget hurt as little as possible.
Patrick, the mining groups have received a sweetheart deal for far too long. It's time they paid their fair share. It's a joke that they get preferential treatment simply because they fund every corrupt politician's campaign. It's really a slap in the face for everyone that's suffering and has to deal with the poor quality of services in the state.
For all of the "raise the tax on mining" crowd, I'd suggest a reading of Article 10, Section 5 of the Nevada Constitution.
Those who are not to blame for this budget crisis, will lose their jobs. Those who are to blame, will not.
Pathetic state of leadership in America.
Patrick, the Las Vegas Sun should be charging you for your endless windbagging for the fat cats you represent.
Renomuse, I'll respectfully disagree with you here. I'm gonna bet all that incumbents who are running this year will lose their "jobs".
They GROSSLY underestimate the anger and angst that is out here.