KTVN Channel 2 - Reno Tahoe News Weather, Video - Special Session Could Get Ugly
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Nevada's political insiders don't yet know whether the special session set to begin February 23 will be quick and easy, or a drawn-out slugfest.
Governor Jim Gibbons has already proposed fixes for more than half of the $880 Million budget shortfall, but admits he still needs to come up with a lot more cuts to reach that target.
Meantime, lawmakers have been holding public hearings and closed-door sessions aimed at finding fixes to the budget.
Unlike the last regular session, lawmakers report that the Governor's office is actively involved in those talks.
Democratic assemblywoman Sheila Leslie says the parties involved are working on a combination of cuts and increased fees for various state services.
"That has come up in our meetings with the Governor's staff and I think they may be imposing some fee increases of their own, possibly," Leslie said.
If that's the case, the Governor and his staff aren't on the same page.
"No new taxes or fees," the Governor clearly stated in a press conference, "fees are taxes."
Gibbons is pushing for the entire shortfall to be fixed with cuts, not new revenue.
Lawmakers may not have the stomach to hit all state services with a 20% cut.
If all parties involved can't reach a consensus before the session starts, that could set us up for a repeat of the last regular session.
The legislature passed a budget by overriding Gibbons' vetoes.
Veto overrides in a special session are in something of a legal gray zone in Nevada. The Governor sets the agenda, but lawmakers argue he doesn't have the power to put an end to the session.
It would likely end up before the Nevada Supreme Court and rack up a significant cost by dragging the session out over a longer period.
The next two weeks will be crucial if there is to be any hope of avoiding a messy political spectacle.
