Bob Coffin

LAS VEGAS-The legislature's Interim Finance Committee, meeting by videoconference in Las Vegas, Elko, Reno and Carson City approved Gov. Jim Gibbons' budget cuts today in a session lasting about two hours.

The committee met to review $236 million worth of cuts the governor determined in January.  Initially, the cuts were not going to be submitted to the legislature, but state controller Kim Wallin argued that cuts would need to have legislative review and continued writing checks at precut amounts.  The attorney general sided with Wallin and issued an opinion earlier this month that led to the Friday meeting.

"As I understand the situation," said state Sen. Bob Beers (R-Las Vegas) during the meeting, "if we approve these work programs, then these budget reductions will be implemented.  If we don't approve these work programs, then these budget reductions will be implemented."

Assemblywoman Francis Allen (R-Las Vegas).LAS VEGAS-Despite a weekend arrest on charges of battery with a deadly weapon, Assemblywoman Francis Allen was back to work today, attending a meeting of the legislature's Information Technology Subcommittee in Las Vegas.

"She looked okay," said state Sen. Bob Coffin (D-Las Vegas).  "She didn't look like she had been through anything."

"She got there early and jumped right into it all.  She did ask questions and participated."

Dina Titus files for the 3rd congressional district. Behind Titus from left are state Sen. Bob Coffin, Tom Wright, and state Sen. Valerie Wiener: Politicker PhotoLAS VEGAS -- Former Nevada Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus filed to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Jon Porter on Tuesday morning in the 3rd congressional district. Speaking to reporters afterward, Titus did not pull her punches on Porter and seemed eager to take him on in the general election.

"This race is not going to be personal," said Titus. "It's going to be about the record, and I believe that my record in Carson City shows that I'm a fighter for the people in this district. I've been representing them for twenty years and that record contrasts, I believe, with my opponent because he seems to have lost his way in Washington and forgotten about the people in District 3."

One of the best battles in Carson City these days is between Governor Jim Gibbons and State Sen. Bob Coffin.  The Las Vegas Democrat says he wants to file a lawsuit against the Governor for enacting budget cuts without having members of the Legislature’s interim finance committee approve them – something Coffin says is required by law.  Nevada Democratic insiders seem to be praising Coffin, who also won points with a late endorsement of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign after his first choice, Joe Biden, dropped out of the race.

Don’t expect State Sens. Bob Coffin or John Lee, who supported former presidential candidates Joe Biden and Chris Dodd, to give their backing to other Democrats still in the race, the Review Journal’s Molly Ball reports.