Raggio, Horsford criticize Gibbons for not signing tax bill

Both the majority and minority leaders of the Nevada Senate have criticized Gov. Jim Gibbons for his decision not to sign the room tax increase approved by the Legislature.

Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, predictably levied the sharpest criticism against the Republican governor, accusing him of cowardice.

"After including the voter approved room tax initiative in his budget, he has taken the easy way out by choosing to take no stance on the initiative," he said in a statement issued Tuesday evening.

"We must face the future with courage and competence, not with the cowardice the governor has demonstrated today," he said. "It is clear that he lacks any vision for what Nevada should be now and in 20 years and that the people of Nevada cannot trust what he says or does."

Horsford said lawmakers will have to do the work to balance the budget.

He wasn't alone as Minority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, issued a rare criticism of a fellow Republican.

"The governor proposed the room tax in his budget and that is one of the reasons I supported it," said Raggio, adding that Washoe County voters also supported the tax.

"Additionally, the governor indicated that he would approve it if the voters supported it," Raggio said in a statement. "If he is now not going to sign it, I and others have certainly been misled."

Both Senators were in committee and unavailable to elaborate on their comments this morning.

Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.