STATE OF THE STATE MESSAGE

GOVERNOR JIM GIBBONS

FEBRUARY 8, 2010

Hello, I’m Governor Jim Gibbons. I am always honored to speak directly to you. But the truth is, I would rather that the circumstances did not compel me to address you tonight.

The great inventor and statesman Thomas Edison once said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

CARSON CITY — Governor Jim Gibbons went before Nevadans last night (Feb. 8) to outline his ideas for balancing the budget.  Those who have been following the issue will note there was little new information.  The state has a deficit of nearly $1 billion and cuts have to be made.  How many lose their jobs and how deep the cuts are to education will be decided at a special session of the Legislature, which Gibbons announced would start on Feb. 23.  

For his part, Gibbons offered some solutions (sort of) that consisted of a three prong approach:  cut governments spending, expand the job market, and get tourists back into Nevada. The governor said he would not agree to any program that raises taxes; instead, he would like to see the state government reduced significantly.

ELY — The BLM announced today they would defer the wild horse gather scheduled for mid-February at the Eagle Herd Management Area in Lincoln County.  The gather would have removed approximately 500 horses from the range – including 50 that had wandered off the range and were causing traffic hazards on the highway near Pioche, the BLM said. 

“The BLM has determined there is not adequate time to safely conduct the proposed Eagle Herd Management Area (HMA) gather prior to the beginning of foaling season, and therefore will defer issuing a decision on the proposed gather until later this year after the foaling season,” said Chris Hanefeld, public affairs specialist with the Ely BLM District Office.

The gather is the subject of a potential lawsuit from In Defense of Animals, a San Francisco-based animal advocacy organization.  IDA filed notice with the Department of Justice stating their intention to sue to prevent another wild horse gather in Nevada.  The announcement was made in a press release issued last week by the IDA.

CARSON CITY — Governor Jim Gibbons will address Nevadans tonight (Feb. 8)  in a special State of the State Address in which he is expected to outline a plan for bringing the budget into balance.

The speech will be broadcast live at 6 p.m. on Channel 8, Channel 2, and KNPB.  The Democratic response will be delivered immediately afterwards by State Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford.