Governor vetoes $2.8 billion education spending bill

CARSON CITY -- Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval vetoed a $2.8 billion K-12 education spending bill from Democrats on Monday, saying it exceeded what Nevada can afford.

Democratic lawmakers sent Assembly Bill 568 to Sandoval knowing it contained about $700 million more than the governor, who opposes any new taxes, wants to spend in 2011-13.

While the veto gave Democratic leaders an opportunity to criticize Sandoval's position on funding schools, it also highlighted how divided the Legislature and the governor are as the June 6 conclusion of the 120-day regular session approaches.

Democrats lack the Republican support needed to forge the two-thirds majority it would take to pass their $7 billion general fund spending plan. The proposal includes about $571 million in new taxes on business and services and postpones the expiration date on another $626 million in existing taxes.

But Democrats do control the Assembly and Senate, which means they can block Sandoval's proposed $6.1 billion general fund budget.

Sandoval's Monday veto covered the Democratic spending plan for the distributive school account, the major funding source for K-12 education. It landed on Sandoval's desk May 10, the 93rd day of the session, after Democrats introduced, debated and approved it in a span of several hours.

"Assembly Bill 568 was processed in a matter of hours, with the clear intention of casting opponents as somehow 'anti-education' while at the same time forcing a tax increase," Sandoval wrote in his veto letter. "Such a manipulation of the process undermines the Legislature's obligations to the people of this state."

Democrats responded swiftly and harshly to the veto.

They emphasized that Sandoval's budget saves money by presuming a pay cut of 5 percent to school employees, could result in more students per classroom and includes a controversial maneuver to divert about $250 million from bond reserve accounts into school operations.

They also claimed their public support is strong in the battle over education funding.

"Never before have we seen this kind of public outcry," said Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks. "We are hearing from countless parents, students and educators that the governor's proposed budget would decimate Nevada's schools. They want us to pass a more prudent plan."

Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, said the veto shows Sandoval "turns his back" on Nevada schools.

"After years of underfunding our schools, Governor Sandoval's veto of K-12 funding adds insult to injury for our students, parents, teachers and the economic future of our state," Horsford said. "Nowhere in his veto message does the governor justify that he has sufficiently funded education. Instead, he accepts mediocrity, which is unacceptable."

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.