Hooray for Governor Jim Gibbons!
Today Gibbons thumbed his nose at the 21 member Democrat controlled Legislative Interim Finance Committee’s political gamesmanship. By Executive Order he will appoint a stimulus czar to oversee and coordinate the handling of the more than $2.2 billion in stimulus money heading to Nevada – without getting legislative (IFC) approval.
In a press release issued today, Gibbons stated:
“Whether the Nevada Legislature or the State Controller like it, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act puts me, the elected Governor, in charge of this program.
“I’m done with partisan potshots. I’m putting federal stimulus funds into our communities. I’m investing in Nevadans starting today.”
Earlier this month, the IFC refused Gibbons' request for $500,000 in contingency funds to hire someone to serve in this capacity. Instead, they funded a similar position in the Controller’s office.
According to another Gibbon’s press release:
“The IFC created a convoluted reporting procedure. The IFC ignored the need to expand and implement our use of ARRA (American Recovery & Reinvestment Act) funds.”
Hooray for Senator Bill Raggio for putting aside what have been some contentious personal differences with Gibbons and supporting the Governor!
According to Anajeanette Damon’s blog on today’s (8/14/09) RGJ website, Raggio said Gibbons tried to go through the appropriate procedures to hire a czar and still believes Democrats were wrong. (He opposed the move within the committee.)
"I think because the Interim Finance Committee acted inappropriately, you can't blame (Gov. Gibbons) for utilizing this procedure," Raggio said. "The governor takes a lot of criticism, but in this case, they did everything appropriate and they were ignored."
The question remains as to whether the IFC will force the issue of whether Gibbons/his appointee will be able to allocate the money without going through IFC approval. Any confrontation would definitely hinder prompt and efficient distribution of the funds.
In his interview with Damon, Raggio warned that if Democrats continue to roadblock the governor, they could find themselves in front of a judge who could decide whether lawmakers (IFC) have any authority at all over the budget during the interim. The statutes governing the IFC have never been challenged.
"There's always been a question as to whether they're (IFC) constitutional," Raggio said.
In a separate interview with Damon, Sparks Democrat Assemblywoman Debbie Smith said the committee would not block the Governor’s appointment, but would contest his vow to bypass the IFC in all future spending of the stimulus funds.
It is not the time to be playing power politics. The Democrat controlled IFC erred in not granting the Governor’s request – and compounded that error in attempting to bypass the Governor and run the program through the Controller’s office.
A good portion of the $2.2 billion is already in the state. Prompt and efficient action is needed to meet federal guidelines and to assure the money is properly distributed and accounted for.
I have to ask.....what the heck are the Democrat members of this committee thinking? What was their purpose in placing stumbling blocks along the way by ignoring the Governor’s original request?
Certainly would not be partisan politics – at its ugliest best - would it?
Think about it.
Nancy Dallas, Publisher/Editor
NewsDesk (Est. January 2003)
The Legislative Interim Finance Committee (IFC):
Senate – 5 D’s 3 R’s
Assembly – 9 D’s 4 R’s
