A Special Session Is Definitely In the Works
On Monday, Gibbons met with Republican lawmakers about the budget and a special session. (LV Sun) This was his first cooperative meeting since taking office so it was a historic move for him. As we know, he has rarely felt it necessary to talk to any legislators during his term, heck… he rarely talked to Republican leaders about anything. He is to meet with all legislative leaders tomorrow to discuss similar issues.
Why is he doing this at this particular time?
His new staff Robin Reedy and Lynn Hettrick probably pressured him to. I think he would rather be dating while avoiding his wife.
He is preparing for an inevitable special session which will consider more budget cuts to cover shortfalls, especially in the unemployment fund which he will balance with more salary and service cuts.
A special session is an opportunity to be more political and divisive. He will never “make nice” with Democrats or State employees because it’s not in him and his base will not allow it.
The meetings and special session will make him look more gubernatorial for his campaign next year. It’s all “show and no go” as we used to say. Plus, there be great photo ops which he can use later in campaign literature and on his website.
What does this mean for state employees?
In normal circumstances you would expect a fair though political approach to the budget problems. We don’t have a governor like that and nothing he proposes for state employees will be fair. Expect more salary cuts in the form of additional furlough days, probably additional 6 days a year. There might even be lay offs and there will definitely be threats of layoffs.
Like I said in previous posts, Gibbons wants a 6 percent pay cut from state employees and he is determined to get it. The current furlough scheme provides 4.6 percent cut in pay. He wants more and has been consistent in this position since late last year. He might even try for a cross the board immediate pay cut for all employees while keeping the current 12 furlough days in place.
Expect him to use the bipartisan meetings and the future special session as a way to rehabilitate his image with his base which is about 25 percent of all registered Republicans, most casinos and all mining companies. If he pulls it off , he has a pretty good shot at the nomination next year.
But then, we still don’t know what Brian Sandoval is planning.
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I am appalled that we are looking at the possibility of yet another cut in pay. I personally am grant funded so cutting my pay doesn’t save the State squat but I am also not spending this money in the State so it is actually a LOSS of revenue for the State. In addition to the previous furlough other increases in insurance and retirement have already taken the 4.6% cut in pay to 7.5% for myself. To add on to this would be absolutely RIDICULOUS!!! Cutting pay where there is no savings is just offensive and to take more is just a slap in the face. As a grant funded employee, I DO NOT get lay off rights that all other employees receive so I think it is only fair to stop cutting into salaries that you don’t pay. Another cut and I will be taking another job elsewhere, an yes, I can get one elsewhere!! Appears as though the State will continue to loose good, highly qualified employees if it continues to treat them like garbage. It’s time to spread the burden to the ALL Nevada residents and stop balancing the budget on the backs of State employees!!
[...] follows my predictions in late July and mid-September that a special session was planned and now I think it is inevitable for early next [...]