Democrats join court fight over Gibbons’ cuts

CARSON CITY -- Top Nevada Assembly Democrats joined Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by the Reno Gazette-Journal to force Gov. Jim Gibbons to make public his pending plans for budget cuts of up to 8 percent for various state agencies.

Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley and Ways and Means Chairman Morse Arberry of Las Vegas, joined by Ways and Means Vice-Chairwoman Sheila Leslie of Reno, said the public needs to know what's in the plans being considered by the Republican governor.

"The release of the public records at issue is of great interest and importance to the public, the media and the Assembly leaders," states their legal brief, filed in Carson City District Court.

The lawmakers added that because the budget-cut information is factual, it's not protected by the privilege the governor is claiming in not disclosing the documents and the interests of those seeking access to the documents outweighs any government interest in keeping them secret.

State Budget Director Andrew Clinger has said a final decision on the plans is expected in early January, and until then the agency recommendations won't be disclosed. However, that could change depending on the outcome of the litigation. A District Court hearing is set for Tuesday.

Clinger is meeting this week with state agency directors and the governor's office to look over the plans.