Governor vetoes F street bill, nine others

Gov. Jim Gibbons tonight vetoed a bill that would require the city of Las Vegas and the Nevada Department of Transportation to reopen F Street, which was closed as part of the Interstate 15 widening project.

In issuing his veto, Gibbons noted the cost of the project could approach $70 million. He said language in the Assembly Bill 304, which passed by wide margins in both the Senate and Assembly, could result in additional tax levies to fund the reopening.

Neighbors in the historically black neighborhood had complained the closing of F Street was walling them off from the community. Transportation officials maintained they did everything by the book in notifying the community about the closure.

Gibbons has a record-setting 41 vetoes.

Today's 10 vetoed bills were:

Assembly Bill 22: Changes provisions protecting consumers from deceptive trade practices

Assembly Bill 25: Changes driver's license testing requirements and fees

Assembly Bill 135: Requires the state treasurer to review agencies' financial obligations before they are issued

Assembly Bill 141: Creates a fund to assist victims of mortgage fraud

Assembly Bill 147: Requires local governments to grant preference to local bidders for some contracts

Assembly Bill 304: Requires the City of Las Vegas and state Department of Transportation to reopen F Street

Assembly Bill 319: Changes procedures for disciplining of school employees

Assembly Bill 381: Changes procedures for contract arbitration

Assembly Bill 463: Restricts hiring of consultants by state agencies

Assembly Bill 467: Changes prevailing wage rules for local government contracts