Gibbons criticizes legislative secrecy

Legislative leaders working on a plan for more than $1 billion in new revenue from various sources were criticized Wednesday by Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons for making "covert deals" behind closed doors to raise taxes.

Gibbons, repeating his threat to veto any new or higher taxes to balance the lawmakers' nearly $7 billion budget for the next two fiscal years, also urged people to call or e-mail their senators or Assembly members to say they're opposed to such increases.

"The state Senate and the state Assembly are controlled by liberal legislators who have promised to pass a budget filled with new taxes," Gibbons stated, adding that tax increases "will kill jobs and crush the economy at a time when we are supposed to be trying to create new jobs and stimulate the economy."

The Republican governor said "a handful" of lawmakers "are making covert deals to raise taxes in Nevada, adding they "can sneak around with their secret plans, but I will continue to do everything in my power to stop them."

While Gibbons didn't name any lawmakers, those involved in closed-door budget and revenue discussions have included both Democrats and Republicans who are part of a "core group" of legislative leaders.

Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said the leaders from both parties "are doing what the governor refuses to do " balance the budget in a way that doesn't send our state in the wrong direction."

"The governor can continue calling people names in press releases, creating podcasts, and hanging silly banners," Buckley added. "We are busy focusing on solutions to the serious problems facing our state."

A joint Senate-Assembly subcommittee, made up of both Democrats and Republicans, signed off Tuesday on a funding plan for higher education, the last major element of the budget. That action pushed the lawmakers' version of the budget to nearly $7 billion.

Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, said legislators now will work on a revenue proposal to balance the budget.

That will include higher taxes, but Horsford said other revenue sources also will be part of the plan. That includes federal stimulus dollars.