A COUPLE OF POLITICAL NUGGETS:

Nugget No. 1 – Just how big is that surplus beyond the $300 million the governor is giving back to the public? We'll find out soon and it is going to be significantly larger. Beyond some stuff about property taxes – he'll work with the Legislature to find a solution (and that surely will be overridden by an initiative, as consultant Sig Rogich predicted today on “Face to Face”) – and some initiatives on affordable housing, most of the surprises already have leaked through the statehouse sieve. Watch Channel 8 later for the definitive commentary from your favorite Flasher and my colleague, George Knapp. Also, the first-ever Democratic response to the governor's speech will be shown immediately afterward from Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus and Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, who also happen to be gubernatorial candidates and will be on “Face to Face” later in the week.

Nugget No. 2 – There will be two Gibsons on the ballot this year in Henderson. The mayor is running for re-election and his nephew, David Gibson, will seek a new municipal court seat.

A COUPLE OF HARRY REID NUGGETS:

Nugget No. 1 – The Republican National Committee had a greeting for Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid today, shortly after Nevada's senior senator unveiled the Democratic agenda – standing with the troops and standing with seniors is the distilled version. The RNC put out a document outlining Reid's record on various issues from Social Security to Homeland Security, preceded by theses term of endearment:

HARRY REID'S REAL "AMERICAN PROMISE": OBSTRUCTION
Reid Lays Out Legislative Agenda, Leaves Out Record Of Obstruction

"The ten-point plan Sen. Reid presented today may be called the American 'promise,' but Reid only seems to be promising to continue blocking the American people's priorities. Considering Reid's record of obstructing the Department of Homeland Security, obstructing medical liability reform and obstructing President Bush's efforts to preserve Social Security, it's clear that Reid and the Democrats would rather engage in partisan politics than work for their constituents."

- Ken Mehlman, Republican National Committee Chairman

Nugget No. 2 – Reid's campaign Web site from 2004 – yes, he had a campaign in the technical definition – was awarded a bronze medal this weekend from The American Association of Political Consultants. The site – www.harryreid.com -- won a “Pollie” and was designed by local interactive expert Dan Geary.

A QUARTET OF FLASH NUGGETS:

Nugget No. 1 – The AP on House members seeking governorships:

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Congressional-Priorities.html?ex=1107587561&ei=1&en=b770628983aa2f96

Nugget No. 2 – Harry and Condi:

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Rice-Change-of-Plans.html?ex=1107587446&ei=1&en=17e8c1f9f9b09ea7

Nugget No. 3 – Safire's final shot at gambling in his valedictory:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/24/opinion/24safire3.html?
ex=1107587610&ei=1&en=c700d71156623856

Nugget No. 4 – And the trains keep running at the Station house:

http://online.wsj.com/wsjgate?subURI=%2Farticle
%2F0%2C%2CBT%5FCO%5F20050124%5F001049%2Demail%2C00%2Ehtml
&nonsubURI=%2Farticle%5Femail%2F0%2C%2CBT%5FCO%
5F20050124%5F001049%2DIhjfoNglaF4mp2maKiIbKmCm4%
2C00%2Ehtml

More Jon Ralston: For more columns written by Jon Ralston, subscribe to the Las Vegas Sun or In Business Las Vegas.

Former teacher who pleaded guilty to sex crimes has shot at probation: A former UNLV basketball player who had sex with students while serving as a middle school substitute teacher has a chance at probation next month, thanks to a prosecutor's backdating of his crimes by a year.

Police report on Galardi to be heard by county: Metro Police officers are preparing to present the results of a yearlong investigation of Jack Galardi, father of a former strip club mogul at the center of a federal public corruption probe, at a meeting of the Clark County Commission scheduled Tuesday.

Jobless rate stays near low: CARSON CITY -- Unemployment in Nevada in December inched up to 3.8 percent with an estimated 43,400 persons out of work, but it was still near the record low set in October.

Progam helps put minorities, women in construction jobs: With commercial construction projects dotting the Las Vegas map the need for construction workers in the valley is high. Because of that demand there is a push to bring more women and minorities into the construction trades.

Editorial
Go slow on lottery idea: With the regularity of a waterwheel, the Legislature keeps returning to the same wishing well -- a state lottery -- for money to close Nevada's gaps in education funding. In past legislative sessions attempts to institute a lottery have come up dry. The 2005 session might be different, however, as Democratic leaders are vowing to support a lottery bill. ... more

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Stolen numbers, stolen credit

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