Governor won’t get meeting with president

CARSON CITY — Gov. Jim Gibbons said he was notified today that President Obama won't meet with him and some key Nevada business leaders, when Obama is in Las Vegas for a fundraiser, to discuss hardships faced by the state's tourism industry.

Obama is scheduled to be in Las Vegas on May 26 for a fundraiser for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Gibbons said he was disappointed that Obama isn't making an effort to "repair the damage" done by his comment in February that corporations shouldn't use bailout funds for trips to Las Vegas or the Super Bowl or to get corporate jets.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs has said Obama wasn't discouraging travel to Las Vegas and instead was referring specifically to companies getting public funds. Gibbs' comments were welcomed at the time by Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and various tourism boosters.

Gibbons said Obama's remarks caused economic damage in Las Vegas, adding that over 400 conventions and business meetings scheduled to be held there recently have been canceled.