Terri Lanni

Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley (D-Las Vegas).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."

Gov. Jim Gibbons.LAS VEGAS - In the hectic scramble before the 25th Special Session of the Nevada state legislature convenes next week, Gov. Jim Gibbons' office is giving legislators a green light to come up with their own proposals to fix the state's budget shortfall.

"Anything that's a viable option, [legislators] will be able to consider," said Gibbons press secretary Ben Kieckhefer Wednesday. "If there's something that we weren't able to encapsulate for some reason in our proclamation or in the agenda we set forth, we'd be willing to amend it so it could be considered."

Control of the agenda is one of the strongest tools Gibbons holds to either push his own plan to fix the shortfall or support efforts by Republican allies. By sticking to his pledge that "no options are off the table," Gibbons could be inviting a drawn-out, acrimonious special session.

LAS VEGAS-The Republican National Committee announced new chairs for their 2008 fundraising effort  in an e-mail today.  The Nevada list is short on surprises, except that Steve Wynn, who has generally contributed to candidates from both political parties, is listed as an honorary co-chair.

The list names William Weidner, president and COO of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, as chairman with Sig Rogich, president of Rogich Communications Group, as co-chair.

Presumptive Republican nominee Ariz. Sen. John McCain speaks during a town hall meeting in California Monday.: Getty Images PhotoLAS VEGAS—Ariz. Sen. John McCain will be in Las Vegas Friday, attending a high-dollar fundraiser on the heels of the presumptive Republican nominee’s three-day campaign swing through California.

The “Finance Luncheon,” organized by top Nevada Republicans Sheldon Adelson, CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, Terri Lanni, Chairman and CEO of MGM/Mirage, and Sig Rogich, former American ambassador to Iceland and president of the Rogich Communications Group, will be held at Adelson’s Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and will cost a minimum of $1,000 per person or $2,300 for a private reception and photo opportunity with McCain.

Now that the Nevada State Education Association has submitted a petition to Secretary of State Ross Miller's office that would increase the gaming tax on our biggest casinos (those making more than $1 million a month in gaming revenue) by 3%, you fine citizens may have a choice to make.  Do you bite the hand that feeds so many Nevadans by signing the petition (and maybe eventually voting on it), or do you say "Sorry, kids and teachers, this isn't the way to make things better for you?"

You tell me.

If you didn't see it, the R-J reported 11/4 that MGM Mirage Chairman and CEO Terri Lanni wants Governor Jim Gibbons to look at new taxes.  Lanni is right about two things:  1) Nevada relies too much on gaming for revenue; and 2) our schools totally suck.  We consistently rate in the bottom 10% of all states.  Literally, sometimes Nevada schools rank 49th out of 50.  Are you happy with that?  Probably not.