More symbolic nonsense

Virtually lost in the coverage of the state's budget problems was Gov. Jim Gibbons' creation in May of his Spending and Government Efficiency Commission. The panel is modeled after former President Reagan's Grace Commission, which eventually suggested more than 2,500 ideas for reducing waste in the federal government.

The commission's first meeting will be June 26 in Carson City -- just days after lawmakers are scheduled to meet in the capital to tackle a growing revenue shortfall that is mushrooming past $900 million.

But at the risk of stating the obvious, these committee exercises too often are nothing more than symbolic nonsense that either produce little of lasting value or are promptly ignored once the congratulatory backslapping concludes. And while we take a back seat to nobody in embracing efforts to expose wasteful state practices, the panel's chairman has already stoked the fires of skepticism.

On Monday, Bruce James, who will lead the Gibbons panel, revealed in a letter to other members of the board that the commission won't look at K-12 or university budgets. That means more than half of the state budget is off limits.

Isn't this like asking a mechanic to make sure your 10-year-old Chrysler is ready for a cross-country jaunt, but telling him not to look under the hood? What's the point?

Mr. James argues that local school districts and the university system are not under the governor's direct control and instead are overseen by the Board of Regents and county school boards. True, but how does that preclude the commission from simply identifying and suggesting proposed reforms in education spending?

Mr. James should reconsider. Otherwise, don't expect much from the Spending and Government Efficiency Commission.