Buckley: Dems will have own plan to fix budget

LAS VEGAS - On her way into a rush meeting with the Democratic legislative caucus, Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley (D-Las Vegas) predicted Wednesday that Democratic legislators would produce their own plan to meet Nevada's budget shortfall and took issue with Gov. Jim Gibbons' call for a special session to address the problem.

"It's very odd to run a special session this way," said Buckley.  "Usually a governor identifies a problem, identifies a solution, works with legislative leaders on developing a consensus for that solution and then, if legislative action is required, calls a special session.

"To have done none of that?  I've never seen that happen before."

Buckley said Democrats would discuss a number of proposals to fix the budget gap and cautioned that some estimates of the shortfall may not be entirely accurate.

"It was reported today at $260 million," said Buckley.  "Our fiscal analysts think that number is fantasy and not accurate."

Buckley would not give legislative analysts' projection of the shortfall, saying "they're about 98 percent of the way finished," but said their number would be significantly lower.

Buckley hinted that one idea to address the shortfall, MGM Mirage Chief Executive Terri Lanni's proposal to double the payroll tax and raise room taxes, would be unlikely to find support, however.

"In my opinion, developing long-term tax policy never works in a special session," Buckley said.

Despite the different estimates, Buckley said she believed the legislature would be able to come to a compromise, with or without the governor.

"The senate and the assembly are accustomed to working together and developing plans," said Buckley.  "We may have strong philosophical differences, but in the end we have to come to a consensus.  Otherwise you have stalemate and we really don't operate like that here in Nevada."