You tell me.

If you didn't see it, the R-J reported 11/4 that MGM Mirage Chairman and CEO Terri Lanni wants Governor Jim Gibbons to look at new taxes.  Lanni is right about two things:  1) Nevada relies too much on gaming for revenue; and 2) our schools totally suck.  We consistently rate in the bottom 10% of all states.  Literally, sometimes Nevada schools rank 49th out of 50.  Are you happy with that?  Probably not.

Are you willing to support more business taxes to balance the budget and maybe help schools?  You tell me.

Lanni has long-supported Republicans and lower taxes.  He's also been in Nevada for decades and has seen lots of changes.  Should the gaming industry be taxed differently than other industries?  A gaming tax has made sense in Nevada for a long time, and it still does.  Forty years ago, gaming was the whole pie.  Look at Nevada now.  Look at Las Vegas especially.  1.5 million people and growing.  Granted, gaming and gaming-related jobs, account for 1/4 of all jobs, but what about all the rest?  Everyone else might not be here without the casinos, but they're here now.

Should all businesses pay a fair share?  Is the time now past when tourists and casinos can foot the bills alone?

Lanni thinks Gibbons should take a "leadership role," abandon the no-new-taxes pledge, and govern.  Because "That's what governors do."  Whether or not you agree with Terri Lanni, he is not alone.  Gibbons' call for budget cuts alone has not been met with great joy by other political leaders.