We at Various Things & Stuff have long wondered about why U.S. Sen. Harry Reid has been so vocal about banning coal-fired power plants in Nevada. Reid’s a cagey politician, and it’s not like him to close off his options so completely (he’s declared that a trio of coal plants, one near Mesquite and two near Ely, will not be built).

The theories abound, from Reid building up his environmental credentials to hewing to the lefty wing of the party he heads in the Senate to building up some credibility on energy issues to looking forward to the 2008 election. We still haven’t heard a satisfactory explanation.

(And yes, we’re far to cynical to believe Reid’s own given reason for his stance: his conscience. First, Reid’s had to make compromises before that didn’t bother his conscience. Second, his stance on mining is far too permissive to allow for a green conscience. Coal plants do emit carbon dioxide, but mines emit cyanide and mercury, and Reid protects them!)

While we still don’t have a full explanation, we do have an interesting side note: They’re using Reid’s green stance to raise green cash!

According to a copy of a fundraising letter we obtained when somebody e-mailed it to us, former Vice President Al Gore (winner of both the Oscar and the Nobel Prize) is getting Reid’s back when it comes to green, noting that Reid’s signed the "Live Earth Pledge," which we think has something to do with banning rock concerts.

"Taking this stand wasn’t easy. By making this pledge, Harry Reid stood up to powerful corporations and lobbyists who have a financial interest in continuing to dump greenhouse gases into our atmosphere — and who are willing to spend millions to defeat any politician who dares to oppose them," Gore wrote. (Of course, he meant non-mining powerful corporations and lobbyists. And they’re not so powerful that Reid hasn’t felt perfectly OK thrusting his thumb in their eye.)

Gore goes on to encourage people to sign a petition asking Congress to pass legislation aimed at reversing global warming and … (wait for it) … donate to Friends for Harry Reid! Gore suggests $1,000, $1,500 or even $2,000. You know, to help Reid fend off assaults from "big oil, coal and the auto industries that are sure to come."

What about the mining industry? Gore doesn’t really mention that, although he does note later in the letter that Reid had called out some coal-fired power plants in Nevada, and even quotes Reid on the reasons why. "We need Harry Reid’s style of leadership now more than ever if we are going to solve the climate crisis," Gore ads. "Harry Reid’s bold position should be the rule — not the exception."

Except for Reid’s bold position for the environment goes right out the smog-stained window when it comes to the mining industry, which is also causing environmental harm.

We know that nobody’s perfect, and that there are plenty people who have much worse green voting records than Reid. (Hell, all of the Nevada delegation opposes mining law reform that would impose royalties to raise money to clean up old mines.) But it seems to us that Gore’s praise is a bit selective … just like Reid when it comes to distinguishing between polluters.

Regular readers of Various Things & Stuff know that we’re big fans of Delaware U.S. Sen. Joe Biden for president. Sometimes, people call us and ask about it. Sure, they’re political campaigns. But still! We always level with the underpaid interns and tell them we’re for Biden.

Why? Here’s why, baby. Biden cleaned up in the Democrat’s presidential debate last night, and not just with that great (and totally true) line about former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, either. He’s got serious foreign-policy experience, a keen grasp of domestic issues and (very important) a great sense of humor, too.

So, if you’re still undecided in the presidential contest — or if you’re tired of the mega-media attention lavished only on Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama — check out Biden.

OK, we may have exaggerated a bit with that headline. In fact, nothing has really changed about Yucca Mountain in light of a hearing this morning in the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee.

Gov. Jim Gibbons has told Chancellor Jim Rogers, Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid and other officials to get real when it comes to cutting the budget, according to Reno’s biggest defender, Gazette-Journal political reporter Anjeanette Damon.

It’s his first personal pushback since Rogers and the locals staged a government mutiny, refusing Gibbons’ request to identify places where budgets could be cut as much as 5 percent, thanks to gambling and sales tax shortfalls.

Damon quoted Gibbons on her blog thus: "The reality is the revenues coming in to the state are lower. They have to face reality. I increased their budget 13 percent over the biennium, I would think they could look at their expenditures and find some way to assist in helping with this revenue decline."

You mean, telling Gibbons to blow it out his ass isn’t helpful?

Anyway, this would normally be the part where we make jokes about Gibbons himself being out of touch with reality, except for one thing: He’s right. The state is seeing less in tax money coming in, and cuts have to be made, or the budget will be unconstitutionally out of balance. Sure, part of the problem is Gibbons’ own fealty to that stupid no-taxes pledge. But that’s not something he’s able to move away from, ideologically, psychologically or politically.

So given that reality, and given that Gibbons has the authority to make the cuts without anybody’s permission, it seems like the responsible thing to do is to find ways to make any potential cuts hurt the least.

We understand that Rogers, Reid and others don’t want to make any cuts, and that they disagree with the notion of cutting higher education, juvenile justice services and the rest. That’s clear. But it’s kind of their job to step in when things don’t go well and fix the problem. Just saying no — or issuing broadsides saying the governor should raise taxes or convene a tax-raising summit — isn’t going to do the trick. (Besides, issuing big-picture declarations that nobody pays any attention to anyway is our job.)

Gibbons is going to cut no matter what, or so we think. (Asked about it by Damon, Gibbons said, "I think there are a lot of smart people in this state making those decisions who can figure it out themselves what’s going to happen." Hmmmm. Sounds ominous. Then again, it sounds funny, because it seems like the governor is saying that he’s not a smart person making those decisions. Ha!)

Anyway, Gibbons has convened a meeting with local officials Nov. 7 to discuss the matter. The time between now and then might be best used figuring out how to cover the shortfall. And maybe in those discussions, Rogers, Reid and their allies can explain to the governor why cutting higher education and human services is a really bad idea. Who knows? He might change his mind, and choose to cut elsewhere. (We know, but still…) But you can’t be part of the conversation unless you’re in that room, right?

UPDATE: Gibbons office just sent out a news release formally announcing the Nov. 7 meeting. It reads in part:

"Reduced revenue projections require us to evaluate our state’s spending priorities to ensure that we continue to responsibly manage taxpayer dollars," said Governor Jim Gibbons. "This meeting will provide an opportunity for key decision makers and state budget experts to review the state’s current and future fiscal status."
 
Governor Gibbons invited the following state and local leaders to the November 7 meeting: Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert, Clark County Commission Chair Rory Reid, Washoe County Commission Chair Bob Larkin, Elko County Commission Chair John Ellison, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman,  Reno Mayor Bob Cashell, North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon, Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson, Sparks Mayor Geno Martini, and Chancellor Jim Rogers.
 
"Like any family or business facing potential income reductions, the state must create contingency plans to live within its means, and I will lead our efforts to ensure we have a constitutionally mandated balanced budget without dipping further into the pockets of our hardworking taxpayers," Governor Gibbons concluded.

Notice the release says Gibbons "invited" those people, not that they’ve committed to attend. They should, as we’ve said, but it will still be interesting to see who shows up. Especially Rogers, whose name was listed last on this list. Oh, sorry, we’re reading into things again.

We’ve already called Gov. Jim Gibbons a bunch of immature names for first whining and bitching about not being invited to a Yucca Mountain hearing in Washington, and then bailing on the hearing once he was finally invited. Seriously, Gov. Diva. Get over your gubernatorial self.

But there’s more! Instead of just sucking it up, we get a bunch more excuses from Carson City for what’s really become ridiculous behavior.

Melissa Subbotin, Gibbons’ press secretary, told the Review-Journal that the governor was going to try to make it out on the red eye, but just couldn’t make the schedule work. "Unfortunately, we are working with timely information [on the state budget] and at the end of the day, the governor felt the budget challenges took precedent."

First, it’s precedence, not "precedent." A precedent is an act, statement or decision that is invoked to deal with similar situations at a later time, like a legal precedent. (For example, "Gov. Gibbons set a bad precedent when he lied about why he had his inauguration at midnight.") Precedence means the act or right of preceding in time, order or rank. We’re just saying.

Second, Gibbons (and God knows we don’t like admitting this) is the governor. He can arrange budget meetings whenever he wants. His staff will wait for him. So if he had to be in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, well, he could have a budget meeting on Thursday. Or Tuesday. Or whenever. That’s part of what being a "chief executive" is all about.

And poor U.S. Rep. Jon Porter! After sticking his neck out for Gibbons and saying a hearing without the governor would be a dog and pony show, the congressman had to deal with Gibbons’ ball-taking and home-going. "It was unfortunate he will not be able to attend," Porter said. (Memo to Porter: Gibbons, as we said Monday, is a bit of an ass clown. Don’t defend him! You’ll get ass clown all over your congressional blue suit!)

Now, over in the Las Vegas Sun, there’s something else that’s amusing. Porter spokesman Matt Leffingwell is quoted saying "The congressman feels he [Gibbons] would have offered valuable testimony." (And, knowing Leffingwell, dude did it with a straight face, too. He’s just that good.)

Subbotin, however, countered by saying Nevada’s views would be well-represented. "He [Gibbons] has great confidence in the delegation."

Really? Then why the hell did Gibbons bitch, cry, whine and moan like a little girl with a skinned knee that he wasn’t invited in the first place?! If the delegation could do such a good job, why not just tend to your budget  cutting and let them deal with Yucca, huh?

Unless, of course, you’re an attention starved brat who’s been watching The Hills on DVD late into the night at the mansion.

But Gibbons has been busy with the budget, right? Way, way to busy to do anything but crunch numbers, right? So busy that despite getting a Senate committee to invite him to a hearing and totally reshuffle its schedule to accommodate him, he doesn’t have a minute to spare, right?

Then why the hell was Gibbons in California on Monday touring military bases with his homeland security chief? That’s right: Our super-busy governor had plenty of time to burn playing G.I. Joe, but no time to travel back to Washington, D.C. and fulfill the commitment that he got himself into by throwing his political temper tantrum in the first place.

We spell that: A-S-S C-L-O-W-N.

Steve Wynn is pretty good at building casinos. The Golden Nugget, which he used to own, is still the nicest place downtown. The Mirage totally revolutionized Las Vegas, ushering in the megaresort era. And The Bellagio set new standards for luxury. His latest place, the Wynn Las Vegas, is very nice, too.

But when it comes to holding forth on geopolitical issues, well, not so much. Check out this story from the Associated Press for proof:

"That imbecile Mao Zedong almost ruined that country [China]," Wynn said.

 

Later, Wynn clarified his remarks, saying "I said the Cultural Revolution almost ruined the country. It was imbecilic. I didn’t call him [Zedong] an imbecile, I said it was imbecilic."

"I said Deng Xiaoping was the father of modern China, and then I went into a long dissertation about how well I thought they managed their affairs."

See? Being super-rich means being able to totally manipulate reality! In fact, Wynn did call Mao Zedong an imbecile. But once confronted, he simply said he didn’t, and everything’s cool! Wow. Being rich must be so super-sweet!

For example, if we at Various Things & Stuff were rich, we might say this: "That ridiculous dumbass Steve Wynn totally had it right when he called Mao Zedong an imbecile!" And then later, if Wynn or his people were to call, we’d simply say this:

"Oh, we didn’t call Wynn a ridiculous dumbass. No, we said his backing off his original quote about Mao Zedong was ridiculous and dumbasstic."

Now, some of you may wonder if Wynn’s remarks might get back to Beijing, where authorities might make trouble for him in Macau, where Wynn has a casino, and is looking to build another. Fear not! Because Wynn went on to kiss a little sweet & sour Chinese ass, thusly:

• He said a visit to China by the exiled Dali Lama might cause some "unintended disorder." (And you know how the Chinese deal with disorder, don’t you? Here’s a hint: Rhymes with "tank"!)
  
• He said the greatest threat to global business is terrorism, as opposed to, in no particular order, global poverty, disease, political oppression (like they have in, say, China!) or war.
  
• He said that "Taiwan is like Maine, or Washington. It was theirs [China’s] and it got taken away. It’s like Hawaii. And they want it back. And most of the people in Taiwan want to go back."
  
• Of course, many people in Taiwan don’t want to go back, just as many of the residents of Maine and Washington and probably Hawaii, too, wouldn’t mind splitting off from the United States until we elect a better president. But we’re sure Wynn’s hummer of a quote sure put a smile on the faces of officials in Beijing, whom he also praised for the country’s economic growth and efficient bureaucracy.

So, there you have it: Just when it looks like an American businessman is going to tell the truth about China, he goes all soft and cuddly. Sure, what Wynn said was not as bad as, say, Sheldon Adelson’s despicable remarks. But it sure wasn’t good, either.

Maybe he should stick to building casinos.

When news falls through the cracks, we totally get the caulking gun and seal the cracks, so we can Roomba that news up and use it in our Quick Hits! Here we go!

• People are beating up on U.S. Sen. Harry Reid because he said that “global warming” was “one reason” for the devastating California wildfires. Nevada Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Lowden said it would be better if Reid just sent aid, which of course she can say, since her party is known for responding quickly and effectively in a crisis. Just put on a scuba suit and ask New Orleans. (Besides, President George W. Bush had already ensured aid was on the way … this time.)
  
• Then again, Reid and Bush appear to agree on something: An 8 percent royalty on new mines (and a 4 percent royalty on old ones) would crush the mom-and-pop mining industry into powder. Ah, who needs the $30 billion to $70 billion the royalty would raise for cleanup of old mines anyway? It’s not like they’re coal-fired power plants, right Sen. Reid?
  
• Here’s a question: If Gov. Jim Gibbons’ spokeswoman, Melissa Subbotin, is right when she says “The governor believes that increasing taxes at a time of economic downturn is irresponsible,” AND if state Sen. Bill Raggio has suggested a comprehensive look at the state’s tax structure that might result in a tax increase, THEN is Raggio irresponsible? Hmmmmm, awkward!
• We absolutely love this: Asked by the Las Vegas Sun if Gibbons is increasingly isolated, even from his own party, Subbotin pointed to backing from … state Sens. Bob Beers and Barbara Cegavske! Yes, those two are known for their mainstream appeal and folksy charm.
  
• We were going to write about Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson’s letter to the editor, defending himself after the R-J wrote about how he’s suing columnist John L. Smith into bankruptcy. But our colleague Hugh Jackson has said it better than we ever could over on the Las Vegas Gleaner.
  
• Speaking of saying it better than we could, check out this offering from the Review-Journal’s Vin Suprynowitz.
  
• A political appointment? Or an unethical conflict? Our colleague Jon Ralston delves into the details of a bizarre Reno lawsuit involving first lady Dawn Gibbons, her lawyer, and now the governor. (Hey, didn’t Gibbons bounce prominent lawyer, Republican National Committeeman and all-around good guy Joe Brown from the Athletic Commission? Just asking.)
  

Seriously, we just don’t get Gov. Jim Gibbons. First, the guy whines like a little girl with a skinned knee when he’s not invited to testify to a Senate panel about the dangers of Yucca Mountain. "I was deeply concerned that I have not been invited to testify on behalf of the people of Nevada," Gibbons wrote to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer.

Some — and by that we mean our own U.S. Rep. Jon Porter — even questioned the validity of the hearing without Gibbons. And the Review-Journal story linked above asked the not-unreasonable question of whether Gibbons, a Republican, was overlooked by the Democratic-controlled Senate committee because of his party affiliation.

(Left unexplored in the story is the not unreasonable question of whether Boxer simply didn’t want Gibbons around to try to walk her to her car once the hearing wrapped up.)

Anyway, by week’s end, and no doubt after receiving a briefing that included the fact that there is a person called Jim Gibbons and that this person got elected governor of Nevada, Boxer had relented and extended an invitation to Gibbons. And in reply, Gibbons said … I’ll have to check my schedule.

What? First the guy bitches that he wasn’t invited, and now he makes noises like he won’t be able to make it because of other commitments (specifically making sure the health and human services department gets its budget cut while prisons remain totally untouched)?! What the hell is going on?

"We do have a couple items on our schedule that have been there for quite a while, but we will do our best to rearrange those," said spokeswoman Melissa Subbotin. "It is a really tough time for us to leave in the middle of the week. It is such a critical time on the budget process, and that is our No. 1 priority, but we will do everything we can to participate, one way or another."

Let’s just say it: After all that, if Gibbons doesn’t get his ass on a plane and get out to Washington D.C., he’s going to look like a huge, whiny crybaby. You know, more than he does right now.

Anyway, it’s not like having Gibbons testify will actually help the case. As our colleague (and now CityLife columnist!) Hugh Jackson has written on his blog, Gibbons at least once has stipulated that the science behind Yucca is fine. Given that, the choice of anti-Yucca Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto seems like a fine one to us.

UPDATE: This just in, thanks to our colleague Jon Ralston’s FLASH: Gibbons will not — repeat, not — travel to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday to attend the Yucca hearing that he bitched so loudly that he was excluded from. Instead, he’ll stay and meet with budget people. What a huge, whiny, crybaby ass clown! (That last part was from us, not Ralston.)

Review-Journal columnist Jane Ann Morrison clearly enjoys making people uncomfortable. Her usual weapon of choice: A column about sex.

Her most recent offense involved a public lunch discussing the sex lives of flowers, in which she clearly delighted in causing other patrons of the upscale Vintner’s Grill in Summerlin to lose their appetite.

But it’s not like this is new. We got a hint about what was coming in Morrison’s very first column. R-J Editor Tom Mitchell asked Morrison to keep the number of cat columns to a minimum. What he forgot to tell her was the sex stuff belongs in therapy, not on the front of the Nevada section.

The cat columns may make people snicker, but they won’t make anybody queasy.

Even before she successfully lobbied to become a columnist, Morrison found a way to get her obsessions into the paper. And when she was named a columnist, it didn’t take her long to venture again in that direction.

Since then, in column after column after column after column, she’s explored some obvious issues in print. Some are more disturbing than others. Sure, it’s cheaper than professional help, but this is supposed to be a general interest column, not a prurient interest column!

And it’s not just the obvious stuff, either. It could be an endangered fish. Why, she once turned a column about the re-naming of the College of Southern Nevada into something sexual.

We know she and the fine folks at what we liberally call the R-J’s newsroom brain trust don’t care what we think, but c’mon, people. It’s getting ridiculous. Think of your readers, after all, some of whom eat breakfast while reading the paper. Do you want that on your conscience?

It’s almost the weekend! Start it off right with a round of Quick Hits!

• OK, let’s clarify something: Just because we at CityLife can — thanks to a federal court ruling — advertise for legal brothels in adjacent counties, it doesn’t mean prostitution is legal in Clark County. Got that, everybody? Prostitution — such as this open and flagrant example of trick-turning — is prohibited by law!
  
• So now the health district says you can bring your own food into a smoking bar, just that no bar employee can help you get it. That’s not what the district said recently. (According to the Review-Journal, the health district sent bars a letter in June saying the smoking law doesn’t allow third-party food service in stand-alone bars, which, by the way, it does not.) Gosh, we love grassroots democracy!
  
• Nevada newspaper again serves as enabler for pathetic, slightly nutty, publicity starved area man.
  
• Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio distances himself from Gov. Jim Gibbons‘ budget-cutting plans, proving that not all Republicans want to see the end of government as we know it. Thanks, senator.
  
• Sadly, Raggio’s wisdom and obvious affection for his state and its residents will fall on deaf ears.
  
• Because of Republicans like these.
  
• If even the aforementioned Gibbons is concerned about it, and mean-looking doctors are against it, and it just sounds like one of those really bad ideas, the Sierra Health Services-UnitedHealth Group merger must be bad.
  
• Hey, people, it’s Vegoose! Check out CityLife for a complete rundown of bands to see at the festival of young people’s music. (But keep it down, will you? We’re trying to listen to Tony Bennett over here!)
  
• And, if you’re totally bored, we at Various Things & Stuff will be on Nevada Week in Review, with Mitch Fox talking about budget-cutting, presidential politics and whatnot. Non-obnoxious guests include Howard Stutz of the Review-Journal, Casey Smith of KTNV Channel 13 and Michael Mishak of the Las Vegas Sun. The show airs at 7:30 p.m. tonight, and repeats at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday.
  

You know, our critics probably think we can’t say anything good about Gov. Jim Gibbons. But seriously, how can we when he takes almost every opportunity to screw the pooch (politically speaking, that is)? Plus, we didn’t make him drink at McCormick & Schmick’s, kick a highly qualified person off the homeland security commission or appoint a lawyer for a bankrupt home lender to oversee the state’s Mortgage Lending Division!

Check out this statement that the governor’s office released today regarding Nevada Day:

Carson City – Governor Gibbons released the following statement commemorating Nevada Day:

"Each year, Nevadans across the Silver State join together to commemorate October 31, 1864, the day Nevada was admitted to the Union. This annual celebration of Nevada’s heritage provides an opportunity for each of us to look back on the past 143 years. As we do so, we are reminded of the can-do pioneer spirit that led to the founding of our great state.

"That unique spirit continues today as Nevada remains one of the last frontier states, where businesses continue to grow and families can achieve the American dream.

"As a Congressman, and now, as your Governor I look forward to the opportunity to participate in Nevada Day festivities, where our unique history is showcased throughout the day. Following the parade on Saturday, October 27th, the Governor’s Mansion will be open for tours so that Nevadans and those visiting our state have an opportunity to visit one of Carson City’s most historic buildings.

"I am honored to celebrate this Nevada Day as your Governor and look forward to visiting with all those who join the festivities this Saturday in Carson City."

Did you see it? There in the third paragraph? The part about how businesses continue to grow and families can achieve the American dream?

You know what the American dream is right? Home ownership!

And you know that Nevada leads the nation this year in home foreclosures, right?

The governor should: He held a behind-closed-doors summit on the foreclosure crisis this month, where he said the state couldn’t really do much about it.

And CityLife reported this week that renters are among the hardest hit, since the majority of homes foreclosed upon are rental properties.

So it would seem that a lot of Nevada families — whether they own or rent — are seeing their American dream turn into a nightmare, which is probably why the governor shouldn’t have extolled the state’s economy so much in an otherwise inoffensive holiday message.

(We won’t even get into the part about businesses continuing to grow: If that’s true, why has the governor called for potential budget cuts due to lower-than-expected tax revenues? And why is it that the leader of a state with a "can-do pioneer spirit" is constantly telling us what he can’t do? He can’t raise taxes. He can’t do anything about the foreclosure crisis. And he can’t seem to go for even a short period of time without doing or saying something politically problematic.

Happy Nevada Day, Nevada.

Just four days after we wondered if there was any adult supervision in U.S. Sen. Harry Reid’s policy shop, the answer has changed from "hell, no" to "hell, yeah!" Former chief of staff Susan McCue is riding to the rescue!

(Click! That’s the sound of the stopwatch counting down the seconds until McCue calls to begin spinning us to her way of thinking. Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick….)

So it turns out that Bob Jones III has endorsed Mitt Romney for president of the United States.

Who cares you say? Well, consider these slightly relevant details:

Bob Jones’ father founded Bob Jones University, where he banned interracial dating.

Mitt Romney’s church — in which he served as a bishop — banned black people from entering the priesthood until 1978, well after the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

But don’t think that Bob Jones III is getting soft, people. The Associated Press reports that Jones still thinks Romney’s religion is kooky.

"As a Christian I am completely opposed to the doctrines of Mormonism," Jones told [the Greenville (S.C.) News]. "But I’m not voting for a preacher. I’m voting for a president. It boils down to who can best represent conservative American beliefs, not religious beliefs."

But wait! If Bob Jones III is abandoning his religious beliefs simply to win a secular presidential contest, has he not gone apostate? We totally think so!

Romney, for his part, didn’t pay no never mind to Jones’ slam on his church, instead saying he was "proud" to have Jones’ endorsement, according to a version of the Associated Press report posted on the Fox News Channel website.

No surprise there, we suppose. It’s always been clear what Romney’s most important goal is.

Here’s something interesting we learned today about the standoff over potential budget cuts: Gov. Jim Gibbons doesn’t need anybody’s permission to do it.

Not that you’d know from everybody’s Strongly Worded Letters to Gibbons, from Chancellor Jim Rogers to Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid to the Clark County departments of juvenile justice and family services. They’ve all refused to identify areas that could be cut in the event that bad budget numbers emerge at the end of the month.

Gibbons and his administration haven’t said as much. "It’s unfortunate that this is the position they’re [local governments, university system] taking," says a diplomatic Gibbons spokeswoman Melissa Subbotin.

But the fact remains, Gibbons can do what he wants, even without the permission or consent of various state departments, local governments or the higher education system. Consider:

NRS Chapter 353.225 reads as follows:

"In order to provide some degree of flexibility to meet emergencies arising during each fiscal year in the expenditures for the State Distributive School Account in the State General Fund and for operation and maintenance of the various departments, institutions and agencies of the Executive Department of the State Government, the [state budget] Chief, with the approval in writing of the Governor, may require the State Controller or the head of each such department, institution or agency to set aside a reserve in such amount as the Chief may determine, out of the total amount appropriated or out of other funds available from any source whatever to the department, institution or agency. (emphasis added)

 

As if that wasn’t enough, check out the General Appropriations Act of the 2007 Legislature, Section 52:

In addition to the requirements of NRS 353.225, for the Fiscal Years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada shall comply with any request by the Governor to set aside money from the appropriations made by this act in any specified amount. (emphasis added)

 

Oh, snap! We’re pretty sure that says neither any local government nor even the mighty board of regents can refuse if the governor demands cuts, people!

Now, we understand and sympathize with Reid, county department heads and Rogers. (Their letters to Gibbons outlining their objections to his potential cuts have been collected and nicely archived on the blog of my colleague Jon Ralston, as always.)

We agree with Rogers, in fact, that the state needs a fiscal summit where a better finance system than we have now (tax the gamers, and raise a few dozen other taxes by 0.023 or so) can be devised. And we think the potential cuts (Subbotin confirms no final decisions have been made on the budget as of yet, and that everything up until now has been preliminary) would be devastating to local governments and the university system.

But no matter how many letters are written, how many refusals are tossed out and how many very fine points made, there’s no question about one thing: Gibbons has the legal authority to make these cuts, and he doesn’t have to ask anybody for permission to do it.

This just in! State Sen. Bob Beers is supporting — that’s right, supporting — Gov. Jim Gibbons call to cut the budget rather than raise taxes in order to overcome a potential shortfall in state revenues! Once again, Bob Beers is against taxes, and for government cuts.

We now go live to the e-mail in box, where we read this:

"This is government 101," said Beers, a Certified Public Accountant. "If some of our state managers are unable to draw up contingency plans for a little less revenue growth than first forecast, then they need to resign so we can get someone else who can perform this essential government management function."

 

Beers first made this statement, specifically about University Chancellor Rogers, and with all due respect, on his campaign website blog on October 18.

…

Beers noted that "public school enrollments statewide grew slower than projections. University enrollment is down. Population growth has slowed by about half. The resulting decrease in demand for government services should make developing a contingency plan for spending up to five percent less child’s play."

…

"When you combine the many hidden taxes Nevada families pay," said Beers, "and the taxes we take from our visitors and the businesses that attract and cater to them, we have one of the most well-fed governments in America. For the public servants we hire to manage our government services to demand more resources is shameless."

This story can only be described as totally shocking. And by "shocking," we mean "totally not shocking at all, since Beers has always been against taxes, but in a more charming way than Gibbons."