State Democrats outline legislative goals

Democrats in control of the Nevada Legislature pledged Thursday to reject the deep cuts in education and health care programs included in what they termed a "shortsighted" budget plan drafted "in a back room" by Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons.

Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, and Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, said they'll produce an alternative to Gibbons' $6.2 billion spending plan by March 30, following hearings to gather public comment.

At a Las Vegas news conference, Buckley and Horsford said a preliminary review of the budget, which began last week and ended Wednesday, confirms that Nevada is in one of the worst financial crises it's ever endured.

Buckley said a first step, once the 2009 legislative session starts on Monday, will be to debate a new reserve fund that would be a "forced savings account" to protect the state against a future economic downturn.

Lawmakers also will review expected "stimulus" money from the federal government, that could add up to $1.6 billion to the $6.2 billion Gibbons expects in state revenue over the coming two fiscal years.

But even with the stimulus funds, now being considered by Congress, the state would be below the more than $8 billion that Gibbons' budget office has described as the amount needed to continue government services at current levels while accounting for increased demand.

Legislators also will review the many business tax breaks that have built up over the years in Nevada. Buckley said the state "may just not be able to afford" those tax abatements during the current recession.

Horsford said legislators also will focus on ways to track down tax cheats who haven't been paying money owed to the state.